Defeat undefeatable: Ionic liquids as novel antimicrobial agents

Emerging antimicrobial resistance and spread of drug-resistant pathogens is currently-one of the biggest threats posed to global health. Due to that, search of new antimicrobials replacing now used antibiotics has been given a very high priority. Ionic liquids; low-melting salts, thanks to their unique tunable nature and biological activity are considered as a group of candidate compounds to become antimicrobials of the future. This Review presents data collected on the effects of ionic liquids on pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and viruses, focusing on the: (i) interactions between ionic liquids and key cell components including cell membranes, cell wall, proteins and nucleic acids; (ii) oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation induced by ionic liquids; (iii) interactions of ionic liquids with bacterial biofilms; (iv) potential drawbacks related to the use of ionic liquids as antimicrobials.