Progress and prospects of nanomaterials against resistant bacteria

Drug-resistant bacterial infections are increasingly heightening, which lead to more severe illness, higher cost of treatment and increased risk of death. Nanomaterials-based therapy, an outrider, serving as a kind of inno-vative antimicrobial therapeutics, showing promise in replacing antimicrobial agents and enhancing the activity of antibiotics, generally bases on the various inorganic and/or organic materials. When the size of those materials is below to a certain nano-level and the content of nanomaterials is above a certain amount, they are lethal to the resistant bacteria, which bypass the traditional bacterial resistance mechanisms. This review highlights the effect of nanomaterials in combating extracellular/intracellular bacteria and eradicating biofilms. Based on the studies searched on the Web of Science through relevant keywords, this review article starts with analyzing the current situation, resistance mechanisms, and treatment difficulties of bacteria resistance. Then, the efficacy of nano -materials against resistant bacteria and their mechanisms (e.g., physical impairment, biofilm lysis, regulating bacterial metabolism, protein and DNA replication as well as enhancing the antibiotics concentration in infected cells) are collected. Lastly, the factors affecting the antibacterial efficacy are argued from the side of nanomatrials and bacterium, which followed by the emerging challenges and recent perspectives of achieving higher targeting released nanomaterials as antibacterial therapeutics.

Automated summary

Drug-resistant bacterial infections are becoming more severe, but nanomaterials-based therapy shows promise in replacing antimicrobial agents and enhancing antibiotics activity. This review analyzes the current situation, resistance mechanisms, and treatment difficulties, as well as the efficacy and mechanisms of nanomaterials against resistant bacteria. Factors affecting antibacterial efficacy and emerging challenges are also discussed.