Research progress on nanomaterials in promoting phage function and application

Area of Science:

• * Bacteriophage research and nanomedicine.
• * Antimicrobial strategies and drug delivery systems.

Background:

• * Phage therapy shows promise against antibiotic resistance but is limited by poor stability, immune clearance, and narrow host range.
• * Conventional formulations fail to overcome these phage therapy limitations.
• * Nanomaterials offer unique properties to enhance phage functionality and overcome therapeutic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To systematically review and evaluate the use of nanomaterials in enhancing phage therapy.
• * To provide insights into overcoming limitations of phage therapy through phage-nanomaterial combinations.
• * To consolidate fragmented research on nanomaterial-based phage enhancement strategies.

Main Methods:

• * Comprehensive literature review of studies employing nanomaterials for phage therapy enhancement.
• * Categorization of advances based on enhanced phage function (stability, detection, delivery, efficacy).
• * Synthesis of strategies and mechanisms across diverse nanomaterial platforms (polymers, liposomes, metals, etc.).

Main Results:

• * Nanomaterials significantly improve phage stability, detection sensitivity, targeted delivery, and antibacterial efficacy.
• * Various nanomaterial platforms, including polymer, liposomes, and metal-based systems, have been explored.
• * Research demonstrates the potential of combining phages with nanomaterials for improved antimicrobial outcomes.

Conclusions:

• * Nanomaterials are crucial for overcoming key limitations in phage therapy.
• * A systematic approach to phage-nanomaterial design is needed for effective antimicrobial strategies.
• * This review provides a framework for developing advanced phage-nanomaterial combination therapies against resistant bacteria.