The present invention relates to antimicrobial imidazolium compounds having the structure of Formula (I) wherein R is an optionally substituted aliphatic group that is linear, cyclic, saturated, unsaturated or any combination thereof; n is an integer of at least 1; and X is an anionic counterion. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, a gel comprising the compound, uses of the compound as an antibiotic and methods for the preparation of the gels.