Advances in nanomaterials-assisted drug delivery, diagnosis, and action towards drug-resistant Mycobacterium

Threatening impact of tuberculosis (TB) on public health remains significant even after the global initiatives and emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) strains have made the situation complicated. Herein, the exploitation of the same medications for several decades, ineffective drug administration, and insufficient patient follow-up are some of the variables that have fuelled the resistance. As a result, the twenty-first century has seen the greatest number of multi-drug resistance TB cases. Nevertheless, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for TB. This seminal review highlights the most important findings from nanomaterials-related research to detect and counter TB. First, a deeper understanding of the essential molecular mechanisms underlying drug-resistance and drug-tolerance in Mycobacterium pathogen is provided along with biofilm formation and intracellular survival mechanisms. It is followed by detailed discussions about innovative nanomaterials-based drug delivery for antituberculosis medications, and different types of nanomaterials for direct antimicrobial actions. Then, nanotechnology-assisted diagnosis techniques and anti-biofilm possibilities for drug-resistant M. tuberculosis are elaborated. Finally, the challenges and perspectives related to nanomaterials-based theranostic for TB drug-resistance and treatment are provided with concluding remarks.