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Review
. 2017 Oct 3;15(1):65.
doi: 10.1186/s12951-017-0308-z.

Metal nanoparticles: understanding the mechanisms behind antibacterial activity

Yael N Slavin  1 , Jason Asnis  2 , Urs O Häfeli  2 , Horacio Bach  3
Affiliations
Review

Metal nanoparticles: understanding the mechanisms behind antibacterial activity

Yael N Slavin et al. J Nanobiotechnology. .

Abstract

As the field of nanomedicine emerges, there is a lag in research surrounding the topic of nanoparticle (NP) toxicity, particularly concerned with mechanisms of action. The continuous emergence of bacterial resistance has challenged the research community to develop novel antibiotic agents. Metal NPs are among the most promising of these because show strong antibacterial activity. This review summarizes and discusses proposed mechanisms of antibacterial action of different metal NPs. These mechanisms of bacterial killing include the production of reactive oxygen species, cation release, biomolecule damages, ATP depletion, and membrane interaction. Finally, a comprehensive analysis of the effects of NPs on the regulation of genes and proteins (transcriptomic and proteomic) profiles is discussed.

Keywords: Antibacterial resistance; Bacteria; Gene regulation; Mechanism of defense; Metals; Nanoparticles; Proteomics; ROS; Transcriptomics.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of bacterial cell wall structure
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Scheme describing the role of NPs in the generation of ROS
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mechanisms of selected antibiotic classes and antibacterial resistance. a Illustration describing the antibiotic mechanisms of β-lactams (e.g. penicillin, carbapenems, cephalosporins), aminoglycosides (e.g. amikacin, kanamycin, gentamicin), glycopeptides (e.g. vancomycin, teicoplanin, decaplanin), macrolides (e.g. azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin), tetracyclines (e.g. tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline), and quinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin). b Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance develop by bacteria
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A proposed model showing the mechanisms of action of Ag-NPs exposed to Gram-negative E. coli cell. (A) Disintegration of cell wall allowing intracellular components to leave the cell. (B) Ag-NPs entering periplasmic space, beginning a separation of the cytosol from membrane. (C) Interaction of Ag-NPs with DNA. Inhibition can cause ROS production. (D) Cell pits occurring after exposure. (E) Inhibition of proper ribosome function, leading to ROS production, malformation or suppression of proteins, improper DNA function. (F) ROS production. (G) Interaction with proteins, specifically cysteine
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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