Antimicrobial Feature of Nanoparticles in the Antibiotic Resistance Era: From Mechanism to Application

The growth of nanoscale sciences enables us to define and design new methods and materials for a better life. Health and disease prevention are the main issues in the human lifespan. Some nanoparticles (NPs) have antimicrobial properties that make them useful in many applications. In recent years, NPs have been used as antibiotics to overcome drug resistance or as drug carriers with antimicrobial features. They can also serve as antimicrobial coatings for implants in different body areas. The antimicrobial feature of NPs is based on different mechanisms. For example, the oxidative functions of NPs can inhibit nucleic acid replication and destroy the microbial cell membrane as well as interfere with their cellular functions and biochemical cycles. On the other hand, NPs can disrupt the pathogens' lifecycle by interrupting vital points of their life, such as virus uncoating and entry into human cells. Many types of NPs have been tested by different scientists for these purposes. Silver, gold, copper, and titanium have shown the most ability to inhibit and remove pathogens inside and outside the body. In this review, the authors endeavor to comprehensively describe the antimicrobial features of NPs and their applications for different biomedical goals.