Nano-Based Drug Delivery or Targeting to Eradicate Bacteria for Infection Mitigation: A Review of Recent Advances
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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
Published on: October 25, 2013
Yuan-Chieh Yeh1,2, Tse-Hung Huang1,3,4,5, Shih-Chun Yang6
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung City, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Pathogenic bacteria infection is a major public health problem due to the high morbidity and mortality rates, as well as the increased expenditure on patient management. Although there are several options for antimicrobial therapy, their efficacy is limited because of the occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria. Many conventional antibiotics have failed to show significant amelioration in overall survival of infectious patients. Nanomedicine for delivering antibiotics provides an opportunity to improve the efficiency of the antibacterial regimen. Nanosystems used for antibiotic delivery and targeting to infection sites render some benefits over conventional formulations, including increased solubility, enhanced stability, improved epithelium permeability and bioavailability, prolonged antibiotic half-life, tissue targeting, and minimal adverse effects. The nanocarriers' sophisticated material engineering tailors the controllable physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles for bacterial targeting through passive or active targeting. In this review, we highlight the recent progress on the development of antibacterial nanoparticles loaded with antibiotics. We systematically introduce the concepts and amelioration mechanisms of the nanomedical techniques for bacterial eradication. Passive targeting by modulating the nanoparticle structure and the physicochemical properties is an option for efficient drug delivery to the bacteria. In addition, active targeting, such as magnetic hyperthermia induced by iron oxide nanoparticles, is another efficient way to deliver the drugs to the targeted site. The nanoparticles are also designed to respond to the change in environment pH or enzymes to trigger the release of the antibiotics. This article offers an overview of the benefits of antibacterial nanosystems for treating infectious diseases.
Insights
Nanomedicine offers a promising solution to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections by enhancing antibiotic delivery and efficacy. Antibacterial nanoparticles improve treatment outcomes with targeted delivery and reduced side effects.
Area of Science:
- * Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- * Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- * Materials Science and Engineering
Background:
- * Pathogenic bacterial infections pose significant global health challenges, characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and escalating healthcare costs.
- * Conventional antibiotic therapies are increasingly ineffective due to the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
- * Nanomedicine presents a transformative approach to enhance antibacterial efficacy through advanced drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review recent advancements in the development of antibiotic-loaded nanoparticles for combating bacterial infections.
- * To elucidate the mechanisms by which nanomedical techniques improve bacterial eradication and therapeutic outcomes.
- * To highlight the advantages of nanosystems over conventional antibiotic formulations.
Main Methods:
- * Exploration of passive targeting strategies, involving nanoparticle structural and physicochemical property modulation for enhanced bacterial delivery.
- * Investigation of active targeting methods, including magnetic hyperthermia using iron oxide nanoparticles for precise drug localization.
- * Discussion of stimuli-responsive nanoparticle designs that trigger antibiotic release in response to environmental cues like pH or enzymes.
Main Results:
- * Nanosystems demonstrate superior properties including increased solubility, enhanced stability, improved bioavailability, and prolonged antibiotic half-life.
- * Nanoparticle-based delivery facilitates targeted accumulation at infection sites, minimizing adverse effects and maximizing therapeutic impact.
- * Both passive and active targeting strategies, alongside stimuli-responsive release mechanisms, show significant potential for efficient bacterial eradication.
Conclusions:
- * Antibacterial nanosystems represent a significant advancement in infectious disease treatment, offering improved efficacy and safety profiles.
- * Nanomedicine provides a versatile platform for overcoming antibiotic resistance and improving patient survival rates.
- * Further development and application of these nanomedical techniques hold great promise for addressing the global burden of bacterial infections.
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