Recent advances in micro/nanomotors for antibacterial applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria and persistent bacterial biofilms presents a critical global health challenge.
• Traditional antibiotics are increasingly ineffective against these resistant bacterial strains and structures.
• Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to combat bacterial infections effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in antibacterial micro/nanomotors.
• To highlight their synthesis, propulsion, and diverse applications in combating bacterial infections.
• To discuss challenges and future directions for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on antibacterial micro/nanomotors.
• Analysis of synthetic methodologies and propulsion mechanisms.
• Examination of applications in targeted antimicrobial delivery and biofilm eradication.

Main Results:

• Micro/nanomotors demonstrate intrinsic antimicrobial properties and efficient cargo delivery.
• Their locomotion enhances mass transfer and micro-mixing for targeted treatment.
• These motors can permeate biofilms for rapid bacterial inactivation.

Conclusions:

• Antibacterial micro/nanorobots show significant promise as alternatives to traditional antimicrobial treatments.
• Further research is needed to address challenges in translating these technologies to clinical applications.
• Future directions include optimizing design and exploring new therapeutic applications.