Group IB Metal-Based Nanomaterials for Antibacterial Applications

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria pose significant threats to human health. In recent years, escalating bacterial resistance against antibiotics has diminished their efficacy in treating infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and sepsis, making some cases virtually untreatable. Hence, there is an urgent demand for novel approaches to combat bacterial threats. Group IB metal-based nanomaterials including copper, silver, and gold have attracted considerable attention in the field of antibacterial research owing to their remarkable broad-spectrum bactericidal properties. Their high efficacy, ease of synthesis, and amenability for functionalization render group IB metal-based nanomaterials highly promising for diverse applications in the antibacterial domain. This review comprehensively elucidates on the bactericidal mechanisms and applications of IB-group metal-based nanomaterials in addressing bacterial infections. Additionally, insights into challenges associated with utilizing group IB metal-based nanomaterials for such purposes while outlining future directions of research are provided.

Keywords: antibacterial mechanisms; antibacterial nanomaterials; bacterial infections; group IB metals; group IB metal‐based nanomaterials.

Figure 1

A) Global number of deaths caused by pathogens and related infectious syndromes in 2019. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 6 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier Ltd. B) Annual transition of the mortality rate in Japan from 1899 to 2020. (The ordinate is mortality per 100 000, the horizontal coordinate is the year). Reproduced with permission.^{[ 9 ]} Copyright 2022, MDPI AG. C) Global deaths attributable to and associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 23 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier Ltd. D) Common causes of antibiotic treatment failure. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 25 ]} Copyright 2023, Churchill Livingstone.

Figure 2

A) Total Ag uptake in E. coli (left) and its distribution (right). B) The viabilities of E. coli after 6 h exposures of Ag NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 52 ]} Copyright 2017, Dove Medical Press Ltd. C) Molecular interaction of the functionalized rGO–copper composite with bacterial cell membranes. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 64 ]} Copyright 2021, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. D) Au release curves from Au‐Por in different pH buffers (6.0, 6.5, and 7.4). Reproduced with permission.^{[ 65 ]} Copyright 2023, Elsevier BV. E) transmission electron microscope micrographs of bacteria treated with ionic gold species. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 66 ]} Copyright 2023, Academic Press Inc.

Figure 3

A) Proposed mechanism for Ag⁺‐induced inhibition of the thioredoxin–thioredoxin reductase system. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 70 ]} Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society. B) Antibacterial action of copper ions. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 73 ]} Copyright 2024, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. C) Illustration of the antibacterial action of anionic Au NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 77 ]} Copyright 2024, American Chemical Society.

Figure 4

A) Determination of peroxidase‐like properties of Ag NCs and Ag NPs. B) Relative ATP production in P. aeruginosa cells upon exposure to Ag NPs and Ag NCs. C) The bactericidal rate of Ag NCs and Ag NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 86 ]} Copyright 2020, Nature Publishing Group. D) The structural basis and mechanistic studies for the tunable catalytic activities of Ag NCs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 87 ]} Copyright 2022, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. E) Theoretical investigation of oxidase‐like activity over Cu‐NPs/ND@G and Cu3/ND@G. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 90 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier. F) Antibacterial mechanism of Cu₃P NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 91 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier. G) Schematic mechanistic cycles leading to the peroxidase‐ and oxidase‐mimicking oxidation of TMB by the Au³⁺‐NMOFs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 97 ]} Copyright 2022, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. H) Mechanism Illustration of the catalytic activities mechanism and I) bactericidal mechanism of Au NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 98 ]} Copyright 2024, Elsevier.

Figure 5

A) Antibacterial action of GO/AgNPs coatings under 660 nm visible light. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 107 ]} Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society. B) The antibacterial mechanism of CuS against E. coli under 808 nm laser irradiation. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 109 ]} Copyright 2023, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. C) Schematic illustration of the sonothermal mechanism of CuO₂/TiO₂ under US. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 111 ]} Copyright 2023, Elsevier BV. D) Reaction of Cu₂O/PDINH heterostructure under light. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 112 ]} Copyright 2023, Elsevier.

Figure 6

A) Factors influencing the antibacterial effect of nanosilver. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 124 ]} Copyright 2022, Dove Medical Press Ltd. B) Schematic illustration of the proposed multifaceted bacterial elimination mechanism of pAg NCs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 131 ]} Copyright 2022, American Chemical Society. C) The mechanism of ROS production under US irradiation and the photothermal mechanism under NIR irradiation of Ag₂O₂ NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 144 ]} Copyright 2022, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. D) Antibacterial mechanism of Ag₂S. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 145 ]} Copyright 2022, Wiley‐VCH Verlag.

Figure 7

A) Schematic illustration of the action mechanisms of CuCs on methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Reproduced with permission.^{[ 155 ]} Copyright 2021, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. B) Antibacterial mechanism of Vo–(111) Cu₂O photocatalyst. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 161 ]} Copyright 2023, Elsevier. C) Schematic illustration of photodynamic and photothermal antibacterial pathways mediated by CuS NSs and NPs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 108 ]} Copyright 2022, Academic Press Inc. D) Illustration of the POD‐mimic catalytic process and the GSH depletion process. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 166 ]} Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society.

Figure 8

A) The difference in antibacterial activity between Au NPs and Au NCs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 172 ]} Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society. B) The PTT property of Au NRs (left) and Au NBPs (right). Reproduced with permission.^{[ 174 ]} Copyright 2021, Elsevier.

Figure 9

A) Schematic illustration of the possible mechanisms of the photocatalysis, physical puncture and Ag release of BU‐TiO_2−X /Ag₃PO₄ heterostructure. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 176 ]} Copyright 2021, KeAi Communications Co. B) A proposed photocatalytic mechanism of Cu²⁺‐doped ZnO under simulated solar light irradiation. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 177 ]} Copyright 2020, Elsevier Ltd. C) Schematic illustration of sonodynamic bacterial elimination of piezoelectric nanocomposites Au@BTO. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 181 ]} Copyright 2021, Elsevier. D) Action mechanism of the nanozyme(Au/Fe–Ag₂O₂ NPs)‐reinforced urinary catheter. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 182 ]} Copyright 2024, Elsevier. E) Schematic illustration of the NIR‐enhanced catalytic activity of Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanozyme for synergistic bacterial therapy. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 186 ]} Copyright 2023, Springer Nature. F) Schematic illustration of the eradication of MRSA infection through treatment with a gold‐ Au‐doped MoO_3–x hybrid. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 191 ]} Copyright 2022, American Chemical Society.

Figure 10

A) The preparation process and application of Au@HNTs‐chitin hydrogel. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 193 ]} Copyright 2023, KeAi Communications Co. B) pH‐responsive antimicrobial Fenton nanosystem of CuO₂@SiO₂ for ROS Production. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 197 ]} Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society. C) Antibacterial mechanism of Cu/C nanomases. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 201 ]} Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society. D) Mechanism of ROS production of rGO–Cu₂O nanocomposites. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 204 ]} Copyright 2019, Academic Press Inc.

Figure 11

A) The pH‐responsive release and architecture of Ag⁺ from the hydrogels. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 216 ]} Copyright 2020, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. B) Schematic diagram of trimodal bacterial killing strategy and in vivo tissue regeneration characteristics of the composite Ag₂S quantum dot/mSiO₂ NPs hydrogel. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 218 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier BV. C) The mode and strength of intermolecular interactions in different hydrogels. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 204 ]} Copyright 2024, Wiley‐VCH Verlag. D) The self‐regulation mechanism of hydrogels under different pH conditions. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 220 ]} Copyright 2024, American Chemical Society.

Figure 12

A) Mechanism of selective antibacterial action of TA‐Cu NCs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 222 ]} Copyright 2019, Elsevier. B) Formation process and possible interaction of Ag@MSN‐quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine with bacterial cell. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 223 ]} Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society. C) Schematic representation of the synthesis of the BSA–Cu _x S NCs and their application in the treatment of bacterial wound infection coupled with NIR laser irradiation. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 225 ]} Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society. D) Illustration of the possible antimicrobial mechanisms of CuO NP/AA. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 226 ]} Copyright 2021, Elsevier Ltd.

Figure 13

A) Schematic diagram of the PDT synergistic Ag⁺ antibacterial performance of Ag/Co‐TCPP NSs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 246 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier. B) Illustration of the in vivo antibacterial mechanism of ZIF‐67@Ag₂O₂ NSs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 247 ]} Copyright 2023, American Chemical Society. C) The antibacterial action of Cu BDC HSs. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 248 ]} Copyright 2022, Elsevier. D) Antibacterial action of Cu SASs/NPC as GSH‐like mimetic enzyme and HRP‐like nanozyme. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 250 ]} Copyright 2021, KeAi Publishing Ltd.