Nanomaterials as Promising Alternative in the Infection Treatment

Abstract

Both the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the increased biofilm-associated infections are boosting the demand for new advanced and more effective treatment for such infections. In this sense, nanotechnology offers a ground-breaking platform for addressing this challenge. This review shows the current progress in the field of antimicrobial inorganic-based nanomaterials and their activity against bacteria and bacterial biofilm. Herein, nanomaterials preventing the bacteria adhesion and nanomaterials treating the infection once formed are presented through a classification based on their functionality. To fight infection, nanoparticles with inherent antibacterial activity and nanoparticles acting as nanovehicles are described, emphasizing the design of the carrier nanosystems with properties targeting the bacteria and the biofilm.

Nanomedicine Fight against Antibacterial Resistance: An Overview of the Recent Pharmaceutical Innovations

“…On the contrary, hydrophilic nanosystems interact less with opsonins thus, having longer blood circulation compared with hydrophobic nanosystems [22]. Thus, the enhanced actions of nanosystems as antibacterial drug delivery systems arise from various mechanisms, including their ability to optimize the physicochemical characteristics of entrapped antibacterial drugs, their favored accumulation near the cytoplasm, their electrostatic interactions with bacterial membrane, the high oxidizing power and production of reactive oxygen species, the prevention of unwanted interactions and protection of antibacterials against degradation and the better clinical use of antibacterials through more patient acceptable routes [23].…”

Easy One-Pot Low-Temperature Synthesized Ag-ZnO Nanoparticles and Their Activity Against Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…In this present scenario, nanomaterials have emerged as both viable and versatile alternatives to current antibiotics to fight against AMR bacteria as it showed effectiveness in low dosages also where chances of bacteria getting resistance is also less (Regí et al, 2019). The main advantage of nanoparticles as antibacterial agents (i.e., nanoweapons) is that they function via a multiple target approach compared to the single target approach of antibiotics to inhibit the growth of bacteria (Naskar et al, 2016;Baptista et al, 2018).…”

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Complex Bone Diseases: Bone Cancer, Bone Infection and Osteoporosis

“…Biofilms are communities of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced polysaccharide matrix [164]. This protective matrix endows them with resistance to antibiotics and host immune systems that, otherwise, would eliminate bacteria in their planktonic state (free-floating bacteria) [165]. The biofilm-related antimicrobial resistance relies, not only on the physical hindrance of the matrix, but also on (1) the presence of bacterial and host DNA and proteins that may increase the shielding capacity of the matrix [166]; (2) the presence of bacteria with different acquired resistances and antibiotic sensitivities [167]; (3) the development of efflux pumps [168]; (4) the presence of enzymes able to degrade antimicrobials [169]; (5) the establishment of quorum sensing (bacteria-bacteria communication) [170].…”