Combating antimicrobial-resistant Helicobacter pylori infection using nanotechnology- an advancement in...

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a worldwide pathogen associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and a high risk of developing gastric cancers. The lack of conventional treatments due to increasing antimicrobial resistance has turned this into an urgent crisis call for alternative approaches. Nanoparticles can be engineered to encapsulate antimicrobial peptides that will release their therapeutic payloads and thus target H. pylori more specifically while preserving beneficial microbiota.

This systematic review scrutinized nanoparticle-based therapeutics for H. pylori, including recent progress in metallic, polymeric, lipidic, and hybrid nanoparticle approaches regarding mechanisms, efficacy, and safety. Given the emergence of nanotechnology as a promising solution, nanoparticles provide targeted delivery, biofilm disruption, and bactericidal effects.

In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review from 2013 to 2026 for the articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The articles related to the application of nanoparticles for H. pylori treatments were included. Key data on nanoparticle types, mechanisms, efficacy, biofilm penetration, and cytotoxicity were extracted and analyzed. High eradication rates (over 90%) were achieved with reactive oxygen species generation and membrane disruption by metallic nanoparticles, especially silver and gold.

Targeted drug release with reduced side effects was achieved using polymeric nanoparticles such as chitosan, and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). Stability and biocompatibility were achieved using nanoparticles that provided the ability to introduce multiple agents for synergistic therapeutic impact. For H. pylori-resistant cases, nanoparticle-based therapies could be a potential alternative treatment.