Synergistic Effects Between Metal Nanoparticles and Commercial Antimicrobial Agents: A Review

Abstract

Nanotechnology has expanded into a broad range of clinical applications. In particular, metal nanoparticles (MNPs) display unique antimicrobial properties, a fundamental function of novel medical devices. Combining MNPs with commercial antimicrobial drugs (e. g., antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals) may offer several opportunities to overcome some disadvantages of their individual use and enhance effectiveness. MNPs-conjugates display multiple advantages. As drug delivery systems, the conjugates can extend the circulation of the drugs in the body, facilitate intercellular targeting, improve drug stabilization, and possess superior delivery. Concomitantly, they reduce the required drug dose, minimize toxicity and broaden the antimicrobial spectrum. In this work, the common strategies to combine MNPs with clinically used antimicrobial agents are underscored. Furthermore, a comprehensive survey about synergistic antimicrobial effects, mechanism of action and cytotoxicity is depicted. SilverAntimicrobial, drug deliver, anticancer, anti-angiogenic and biosensors 46,47 Gold Drug delivery, catalyst for medical therapy, antimicrobial conjugations, anticancer, gene therapy and diagnostic 48,49 Copper and copper oxide Antimicrobial and catalysis 50, 51 Iron and iron oxideAnticancer therapy, magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drug delivery and cell separation catalysis [52][53][54] Zinc oxide Personal care products, coatings, drug delivery, anticancer and antimicrobial 55, 56Aluminum oxide Drug delivery, biosensing, cancer therapy, antimicrobial, biomolecular preservation, immunotherapy 57 Titanium oxideDrug delivery, photodynamic therapy, cell imaging, biosensors, and genetic engineering, antimicrobial 58,59 Platinum Biomedical devices, anticancer therapies, cardiovascular diseases, bioimaging, nanozymes, biosensors, antimicrobial 60, 61 PalladiumPhotothermal agents, photoacoustic agents, antimicrobial, anticancer, gene/drug carriers, prodrug activators and biosensors 62,63 Scheme 1. MNPs used in biomedical applications. Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs)AgNPs are the most prevalent inorganic nanoparticles applied as antimicrobial agent. AgNPs have demonstrated high antimicrobial activity comparable to Ag ionic form. However, several concerns have emerged regarding their cytotoxicity. The toxicity mechanisms, long-term accumulation effects and dose-response relationship are still grievously unknown. 64 Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs)AuNPs are extremely valuable in developing antibacterial agents due to their low toxicity, high propensity for functionalization, eclectic effects, easy detection and photothermal activity. AuNPs per se possess very low antimicrobial activity, but numerous studies on the antimicrobial activity of AuNPs conjugated with small molecules, such as drugs, vaccines and antibodies, have been reported.

Polysaccharides and Metal Nanoparticles for Functional Textiles: A Review

“…Charged MNPs proved more cytotoxic than neutral forms. Moreover, positively charged MNPs display higher cytotoxicity than negative alternatives of similar size [ 163 , 164 , 165 ].…”

Stabilization of Silver Nanoparticles on Polyester Fabric Using Organo-Matrices for Controlled Antimicrobial Performance

“…Briefly, the extraction was performed in a complete cell culture medium, at a proportion of 0.1 g•mL −1 (ratio recommended for textiles), in a sterile, chemically inert, and closed container, for 24 ± 2 h, at 37 ± 1 • C, and under agitation. The extract was then directly used (100% concentration) or diluted in fresh cell culture medium at different concentrations (2,4,8,16, and 32-times dilutions leading to 50, 25, 12,5, 6.25, and 3.125% concentrations). After 24 h seeding, the cells were exposed to the extracts of the medical devices (0-100%) for another 24 h. Extraction cell culture medium (without the test material) was also submitted to the same extraction conditions and used as a control.…”

“…These NPs possess superior action due to the higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, inducing their antimicrobial action via multiple mechanisms, namely by the direct interaction with the bacterial cell wall, inhibition of the biofilm formation, activation of the intrinsic and adaptive host immune responses, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and interaction with intracellular components (e.g., DNA and proteins) [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In this respect, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have presented interesting antimicrobial properties, even in low concentrations [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Temozolomide Efficacy and Metabolism: The Implicit Relevance of Nanoscale Delivery Systems

“…According to another research study, metal nanoparticles have the necessary properties to perform the role of transporters of therapeutic agents [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 ]. Liang et al developed a complex of silver and temozolomide nanoparticles (AgNPs-TMZ).…”