Nanomedicine in the management of microbial infection – Overview and perspectives

Abstract

For more than 2 billion years, microbes have reigned on our planet, evolving or outlasting many obstacles they have encountered. In the 20th century, this trend took a dramatic turn with the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines. Nevertheless, since then, microbes have progressively eroded the effectiveness of previously successful antibiotics by developing resistance, and many infections have eluded conventional vaccine design approaches. Moreover, the emergence of resistant and more virulent strains of bacteria has outpaced the development of new antibiotics over the last few decades. These trends have had major economic and health impacts at all levels of the socioeconomic spectrum – we need breakthrough innovations that could effectively manage microbial infections and deliver solutions that stand the test of time. The application of nanotechnologies to medicine, or nanomedicine, which has already demonstrated its tremendous impact on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, is rapidly becoming a major driving force behind ongoing changes in the antimicrobial field. Here we provide an overview on the current progress of nanomedicine in the management of microbial infection, including diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, drug delivery, medical devices, and vaccines, as well as perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in antimicrobial nanomedicine.

Nanomaterials for alternative antibacterial therapy

“…15 Biofilms can also favor gene transfer between bacteria, thus spreading antibiotic resistance and transforming a previously non-virulent commensal into a virulent pathogen. 25 …”

Development of gold nanoparticles coated with silica containing the antibiofilm drug cinnamaldehyde and their effects on pathogenic bacteria

“…[7][8][9] Because of their unique optical, electrical, and physicochemical characteristics, nanomaterials and functionalized nanomaterials have attracted the attentions of researchers for the synthesis, biolabeling, imaging, diagnosis, and therapeutic delivery of antibacterial agents. 10,11 Moreover, the conjugation of antimicrobial drugs with nanomaterials protects these drugs from surrounding environments and helps ensure the delivery of high concentrations payload drugs at targeted sites.…”

Antimicrobial activity of menthol modified nanodiamond particles

“…Despite considerable recent progress in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying bacterial infections, and in the development of nanostructured materials displaying antibacterial properties and activity against biofilms [1], [5], [6], [7] and [8], the quest to design and fabricate new antibacterial nanostructures remains a high research priority. Nanoparticles have been considered as affective solution to fight against bacterial infections [4], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14] and [15]. Such nanostructures allow the concentration of antibacterial agents and functions on their surface to deliver polyvalent effects.…”