Group IB Metal-Based Nanomaterials for Antibacterial Applications

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.