ABSTRACT New antimicrobial development is essential to outpace multidrug‐resistant pathogens, safeguard public health, and prevent future infectious disease outbreaks. Out of the extensively investigated Cu‐containing materials, Cu(I)‐based designs are emerging as potent broad‐spectrum microbicides with stronger activity against a wide range of clinically important bacterial, fungal, and viral species than the Cu(II) or Cu(0) counterparts. Advances in Cu(I)‐based antimicrobials have enabled rapid and effective pathogen inactivation through mechanisms such as Cu(I) ion release, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and surface contact killing. This review consolidates the recent progress in Cu(I) antimicrobial development, covering different material classes including cuprous oxide, sulfide, iodide, coordination complexes, and polymers. Common strategies to enhance the antimicrobial potency, material stability, and biocompatibility, together with their translational potential for healthcare applications, are elaborated with examples. Safety considerations and approaches to mitigate potential toxicity are also briefly discussed before the review ends with the major challenges, knowledge gaps, and future opportunities toward real‐life implementation.
Chen et al. (2026) studied this question.