Metal oxide nanoparticles in infectious disease management: Antimicrobial mechanisms, applications, and future...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) driven by antibiotic misuse poses a significant global health threat, projected to cause more deaths than cancer by 2050.
• Declining antibiotic efficacy necessitates the exploration of alternative antimicrobial strategies.
• Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) present a promising alternative due to their unique physicochemical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the antimicrobial properties of metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs).
• To explore the applications of MONPs in managing infectious diseases.
• To discuss the prospects and limitations of MONPs in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on MONPs' antimicrobial activity.
• Analysis of MONPs' mechanisms of action (e.g., oxidative stress, membrane damage).
• Evaluation of MONPs' applications in biomedical fields.

Main Results:

• MONPs exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity through multiple mechanisms.
• Their properties allow for targeted disease management and diverse applications.
• MONPs offer potential in antimicrobial coatings, drug delivery, diagnostics, and implantable materials.

Conclusions:

• MONPs are effective antimicrobial agents with versatile applications.
• Further research is needed to overcome challenges for clinical implementation.
• MONPs represent a viable strategy to combat the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance.