Combating Microbial Infections Using Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Potential Therapeutic Alternatives

Abstract

The nature of microorganisms and the efficiency of antimicrobials have witnessed a huge co-dependent change in their dynamics over the last few decades. On the other side, metals and metallic compounds have gained popularity owing to their effectiveness against various microbial strains. A structured search of both research and review papers was conducted via different electronic databases, such as PubMed, Bentham, Springer, and Science Direct, among others, for the present review. Along with these, marketed products, patents, and Clinicaltrials.gov were also referred to for our review. Different microbes such as bacteria, fungi, etc., and their diverse species and strains have been reviewed and found to be sensitive to metal-carrying formulations. The products are observed to restrict growth, multiplication, and biofilm formation effectively and adequately. Silver has an apt use in this area of treatment and recovery, and other metals like copper, gold, iron, and gallium have also been observed to generate antimicrobial activity. The present review identified membrane disruption, oxidative stress, and interaction with proteins and enzymes to be the primary microbicidal processes. Elaborating the action, nanoparticles and nanosystems are shown to work in our favor in well excelled and rational ways.

Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents: A Review

“…Thus, its disruption is fatal to bacterial cells . The negatively charged cell walls of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are beneficial for electrostatic interactions with positively charged NPs …”

“…88 The negatively charged cell walls of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are beneficial for electrostatic interactions with positively charged NPs. 89 Due to their adsorption and penetration into cells, NPs cause membrane damage in bacteria when they touch them. 90 The adsorption of NPs causes the cell membrane to depolarize, which changes the negative charge of the wall and increases its permeability.…”

Analysis of antibiofilm activity gold and silver nanoparticles against uropathogenic Escherichia coli using confocal laser scanning microscopy

“…Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit strong antibacterial potential by damaging bacterial DNA, interacting with proteins and lipopolysaccharides, and enhancing antibiotic delivery to gram-negative bacteria. Metal nanoparticles, like gold, can disrupt metabolic pathways, affecting the respiratory chain, ATP production, and replication processes, ultimately inhibiting bacterial homeostasis (Kaur et al, 2023).…”

Analysis of antibiofilm activity gold and silver nanoparticles against uropathogenic Escherichia coli using confocal laser scanning microscopy

“…Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit strong antibacterial potential by damaging bacterial DNA, interacting with proteins and lipopolysaccharides, and enhancing antibiotic delivery to gram-negative bacteria. Metal nanoparticles, like gold, can disrupt metabolic pathways, affecting the respiratory chain, ATP production, and replication processes, ultimately inhibiting bacterial homeostasis (Kaur et al, 2023).…”