Imidazole-based chemosensor for the detection of Ag+ ions: Antimicrobial activity, DFT insight, and molecular docking modeling
- 1Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
- 2Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Abstract
With nitrogen atoms in its structure, imidazole can form stable complexes with metal ions, making it a highly suitable ligand for the design of selective chemosensors. In addition, imidazole sensors often exhibit high sensitivity and good selectivity toward target ions. In this paper, an imidazole-based chemosensor was prepared, and its photoluminescence activities were studied. For this aim, 2-methylimidazole was nitrated to produce 2-methyl-4(5)-nitroimidazole; its fluorescence activity was studied among various metal ions. It was found that it can detect Ag + with high selectivity. The LOD was obtained to be about 2.38 × 10 −7 M. Also, according to the obtained results from Job's plot test, the stoichiometric ratio between the ligand and the Ag + ion is 1:1. DFT calculations identified the N3 atom as the preferred binding site for Ag + ions, supported by MEP analysis and optimized geometries. FMO analysis indicated increased reactivity upon Ag + complexation. Furthermore, the synthesized compound demonstrated promising antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains, with enhanced efficacy observed against Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli (MIC <1 mg/mL). Cytotoxicity assays revealed minimal toxicity in normal HUVEC cells at concentrations below 256 μg/mL, indicating a favorable safety profile. Molecular docking studies versus E. coli protein revealed a strong binding affinity (−6.05 kcal/mol) of compound 2 , corroborating its antimicrobial potential. Collectively, these findings suggest compound 2 as a promising antimicrobial agent with potential for further development.
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BibTeX
@article{goodarzi2026imidazolebased,
title = {{Imidazole-based chemosensor for the detection of Ag+ ions: Antimicrobial activity, DFT insight, and molecular docking modeling}},
author = {Mohammad Goodarzi and Ghodsi Mohammadi Ziarani and Zahra Panahande and Somayeh Reiisi and Mehran Feizi‐Dehnayebi},
journal = {Results in Chemistry},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1016/j.rechem.2026.103439},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2026.103439},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Imidazole-based chemosensor for the detection of Ag+ ions: Antimicrobial activity, DFT insight, and molecular docking modeling
AU - Mohammad Goodarzi
AU - Ghodsi Mohammadi Ziarani
AU - Zahra Panahande
AU - Somayeh Reiisi
AU - Mehran Feizi‐Dehnayebi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/14
JO - Results in Chemistry
DO - 10.1016/j.rechem.2026.103439
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2026.103439
AB - With nitrogen atoms in its structure, imidazole can form stable complexes with metal ions, making it a highly suitable ligand for the design of selective chemosensors. In addition, imidazole sensors often exhibit high sensitivity and good selectivity toward target ions. In this paper, an imidazole-based chemosensor was prepared, and its photoluminescence activities were studied. For this aim, 2-methylimidazole was nitrated to produce 2-methyl-4(5)-nitroimidazole; its fluorescence activity was studied among various metal ions. It was found that it can detect Ag + with high selectivity. The LOD was obtained to be about 2.38 × 10 −7 M. Also, according to the obtained results from Job's plot test, the stoichiometric ratio between the ligand and the Ag + ion is 1:1. DFT calculations identified the N3 atom as the preferred binding site for Ag + ions, supported by MEP analysis and optimized geometries. FMO analysis indicated increased reactivity upon Ag + complexation. Furthermore, the synthesized compound demonstrated promising antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains, with enhanced efficacy observed against Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli (MIC <1 mg/mL). Cytotoxicity assays revealed minimal toxicity in normal HUVEC cells at concentrations below 256 μg/mL, indicating a favorable safety profile. Molecular docking studies versus E. coli protein revealed a strong binding affinity (−6.05 kcal/mol) of compound 2 , corroborating its antimicrobial potential. Collectively, these findings suggest compound 2 as a promising antimicrobial agent with potential for further development.
SN - 2211-7156
ER -