Comparative Review on the Antimicrobial Properties of Vanadium, Copper, and Nickel Complexes

Abstract

The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens has created an urgent
demand for alternative antimicrobial agents with improved efficacy and novel mechanisms of
action. Transition metal complexes have attracted considerable attention in medicinal chemistry
due to their diverse biological activities and unique coordination properties. Among various
transition metals, vanadium, copper, and nickel complexes have demonstrated significant
antimicrobial potential against a broad spectrum of bacterial and fungal pathogens. This review
comparatively evaluates the antimicrobial properties of vanadium, copper, and nickel complexes
with emphasis on their mechanisms of action, ligand interactions, and biological activities.
Vanadium complexes primarily exhibit antimicrobial effects through enzyme inhibition and
oxidative stress induction, whereas copper complexes possess strong antimicrobial efficacy due to
reactive oxygen species generation and membrane disruption. Nickel complexes, particularly
Schiff base derivatives, also demonstrate promising antibacterial and antifungal activities through
enhanced biomolecular interactions. The review further discusses the influence of ligand systems,
coordination geometry, and oxidation states on antimicrobial performance. Comparative
interpretations of microbial susceptibility, inhibition mechanisms, and therapeutic potential are
summarized to provide insight into the role of transition metal complexes as promising alternatives
for combating antimicrobial resistance.