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Review
. 2022 Sep 3;10(9):1778.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10091778.

Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Mechanisms and Biomedical Application

Affiliations
Review

Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Mechanisms and Biomedical Application

Domenico Franco et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

The growing increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria has led to the search for new antibacterial agents capable of overcoming the resistance problem. In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have been increasingly used to target bacteria as an alternative to antibiotics. The most promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications are metal and metal oxide NPs, due to their intrinsic antibacterial activity. Although NPs show interesting antibacterial properties, the mechanisms underlying their action are still poorly understood, limiting their use in clinical applications. In this review, an overview of the mechanisms underlying the antibacterial activity of metal and metal oxide NPs will be provided, relating their efficacy to: (i) bacterial strain; (ii) higher microbial organizations (biofilm); (iii) and physico-chemical properties of NPs. In addition, bacterial resistance strategies will be also discussed to better evaluate the feasibility of the different treatments adopted in the clinical safety fields. Finally, a wide analysis on recent biomedical applications of metal and metal oxide NPs with antibacterial activity will be provided.

Keywords: antibacterial mechanisms; bacterial resistance; biofilm; metal and metal oxide nanoparticles; nanomedicine; nanotechnology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic structure of Gram-negative and Gram-positive cell walls. Gram-negative bacteria have an inner and an outer cell membrane (double lipid bilayer) and only a thin layer of peptidoglycan in the periplasmic space, whereas Gram-positive bacteria show only one lipid plasma membrane and a thick peptidoglycan layer interlinked with teichoic and lipoteichoic acids.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of cyclic biofilm formation, from reversible adhesion of bacteria to biofilm dispersion, consisting of the evacuation of matrix–bacteria aggregates.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic description and targets of antibacterial mechanisms due to a physical interaction mediated by metal nanoparticles (NPs).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic description and targets of antibacterial mechanisms due to the release of metal ions (+) by nanoparticles (NPs).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Schematic description and targets of antibacterial mechanisms due to the ROS produced by nanoparticles (NPs).

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