World is facing the problem of resistant bacteria and microbes which are resistant against several antibiotics. In such case should we prefer copper based antibiotics as copper is essentiial trace element for human body.? As it has been found that copper exhibit antimicrobial properties.
Copper and other heavy metals do have antimicrobial properties and can inhibit the growth of bacteria upon contact. However they are probably not suitable for use as an antibiotic, I believe that a sufficient dosage of any heavy metal that would kill the bacteria in an infection would be lethal to us as well. I think the use of copper and silver and other such heavy metals are limited to external use only, and in fact are currently being used to some degree. There are many compounds we can use externally that we can not use internally.
Copper and other heavy metals do have antimicrobial properties and can inhibit the growth of bacteria upon contact. However they are probably not suitable for use as an antibiotic, I believe that a sufficient dosage of any heavy metal that would kill the bacteria in an infection would be lethal to us as well. I think the use of copper and silver and other such heavy metals are limited to external use only, and in fact are currently being used to some degree. There are many compounds we can use externally that we can not use internally.
Actually small amounts of copper are needed for the bacterial as well for the human cells. However, some strategies have been developed to use copper against bacterial infections. I'm not a specialist at all but I've read a nice book chapter on that:
Chapter Copper and Antibiotics: Discovery, Modes of Action, and Oppo...
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