Emerging nano-vaccine technologies to overcome anti-microbial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a critical global health challenge, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top ten threats to public health. It results from the adaptation of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites to antimicrobial agents, which enables these microorganisms to evade antimicrobial therapies and renders conventional treatments progressively ineffective. While traditional strategies aim to prevent infections or preserve antimicrobial efficacy, they rarely address the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance. Resistance-targeting nano-vaccines offer a next-generation strategy by inducing immune responses against specific resistance-associated antigens, such as β-lactamases, efflux pump proteins, and biofilm-stabilizing factors. These nanoparticle (NP)-based platforms enhance antigen stability, promote uptake by antigen-presenting cells, and facilitate robust activation of T and B cells. Moreover, their modular design conceptually enables the co-delivery of therapeutic agents, such as β-lactamase inhibitors, quorum sensing blockers, and gene-silencing systems, that could synergistically disrupt bacterial defense mechanisms. However, these integrated co-delivery strategies remain largely untested in experimental vaccine models. This review explores the therapeutic potential of resistance-targeting nano-vaccines as an innovative approach to overcome AMR, emphasizing their immunological advantages, design principles, and the key translational challenges that must be addressed for clinical advancement.