In Silico and In Vitro Experimental Studies of New Dibenz[b,e]oxepin-11(6H)one O-(arylcarbamoyl)-oximes Designed as Potential Antimicrobial Agents

In a drug-repurposing-driven approach for speeding up the development of novel antimicrobial agents, this paper presents for the first time in the scientific literature the synthesis, physico-chemical characterization, in silico analysis, antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal strains in planktonic and biofilm growth state, as well as the in vitro cytotoxicity of some new 6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-11(6H)one O-(arylcarbamoyl)oximes. The structures of intermediary and final substances (compounds 7a–j) were confirmed by (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and IR spectra, as well as by elemental analysis. The in silico bioinformatic and cheminformatic studies evidenced an optimal pharmacokinetic profile for the synthesized compounds 7a–j, characterized by an average lipophilic character predicting good cell membrane permeability and intestinal absorption; low maximum tolerated dose for humans; potassium channels encoded by the hERG I and II genes as potential targets and no carcinogenic effects. The obtained compounds exhibited a higher antimicrobial activity against the planktonic Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis strains and the Candida albicans fungal strain. The obtained compounds also inhibited the ability of S. aureus, B. subtilis, Escherichia coli and C. albicans strains to colonize the inert substratum, accounting for their possible use as antibiofilm agents. All the active compounds exhibited low or acceptable cytotoxicity levels on the HCT8 cells, ensuring the potential use of these compounds for the development of new antimicrobial drugs with minimal side effects on the human cells and tissues.