Gallium-Based Antimicrobial Strategies in Bacterial Infections
Summary
Gallium has emerged as a promising non-antibiotic agent in the fight against bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. With chemical properties that mimic ferric iron (Fe³⁺), gallium interferes with essential iron-dependent processes in bacteria, including respiration, DNA synthesis and biofilm formation. Unlike classical antimicrobials, gallium cannot undergo redox cycling, leading to metabolic disruption and stunted microbial growth. Recent advances have focused on optimising gallium delivery, combining it with established antibiotics and embedding it in novel biomaterials and nanocarriers to enhance bioavailability, target specificity and controlled release. These strategies offer a dual advantage: direct bacteriostatic or bactericidal activity and the potential to attenuate virulence factors without driving rapid resistance. Clinical translation remains under evaluation, with attention to dosage, host toxicity and long-term efficacy.
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Gallium-Based Antimicrobial Strategies in Bacterial Infections publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gallium-based antimicrobial strategies in bacterial infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biofilm: A structured community of microbial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix adherent to surfaces, often exhibiting increased resistance to antimicrobial agents.
Siderophore: A small, high-affinity iron-chelating molecule secreted by bacteria to scavenge ferric iron from the environment and facilitate cellular uptake.
Iron mimetic: An element or compound that mimics the chemical behaviour of iron in biological systems, allowing it to interfere with iron-dependent metabolic pathways.
Osteoclastogenesis: The differentiation process by which mononuclear precursor cells develop into osteoclasts, the specialised cells responsible for bone resorption.
Bacteriostatic vs bactericidal: Terms describing antimicrobial agents that inhibit bacterial growth (bacteriostatic) versus those that kill bacterial cells outright (bactericidal).
References
- A dual functional Ti-Ga alloy: inhibiting biofilm formation and osteoclastogenesis differentiation via disturbing iron metabolism. Biomaterials Research (2023).
- Advancement of Gallium and Gallium-Based Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2022).
- Recent Advances in Iron Chelation and Gallium-Based Therapies for Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
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