Overview
- An automated platform built and evaluated over 700 transition‑metal complexes in under a week using triazole click chemistry.
- Screening flagged six metalloantibiotic leads, with one iridium complex showing strong antibacterial activity and low toxicity to human cells.
- The library combined nearly 200 ligands across five metal scaffolds to access three‑dimensional chemotypes distinct from conventional carbon‑based drugs.
- Data cited from CO‑ADD counter the assumption that metal complexes are inherently more toxic, indicating a higher antibacterial hit rate without added toxicity.
- Published in Nature Communications, the study outlines next steps to uncover the iridium compound’s mechanism and expand the platform to additional metals and applications.