Nanotechnology-Based Alternative Antimicrobial Materials and Surfaces: A Review

Microbial infections remain a global health threat, and the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance further accelerates this threat to multiple dimensions. Enormous efforts have been made to understand the mechanism of antibiotic resistance and translate this knowledge to the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Although chemical modification of molecular antibiotics and related strategies are commonly used to combat antibiotic resistance, the nanotechnology-based approaches offer promising alternatives to address these challenges. This perspective highlights emerging antimicrobial nanomaterials as powerful alternatives to conventional antibiotics that can combat the microbial resistance issue. First, we discussed the unique role of nanotechnology that can be used to overcome antimicrobial resistance in the context of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and different molecule-based strategies commonly used for combating microbial infections. Next, we discussed nanocarrier-based altered interaction of molecular antibiotics in bypassing the antibiotic resistance mechanism, nanoparticle-based disruption of the electron transport mechanism associated with cellular biochemical reactions, cationic nanomaterial-mediated membrane damage, reactive oxygen species generating nanomaterial-mediated oxidative damage of cellular components, and light/ultrasound-activated nanomaterials-based therapy. Next, we discussed nanomaterial-based design of different antimicrobial surfaces that include coating of the surface with antimicrobial nanomaterials, decoration of the surface with nanopillar structures for physical rupture of microbes, and superhydrophobic surface design for antifouling-based infection prevention. Finally, it concludes with current challenges and future perspectives on translating these nanotechnology-based approaches into clinically viable antimicrobial materials/therapies.