Tuning gut microbiota by advanced nanotechnology

Abstract Gut microbiota reveals fundamental mechanisms of health and disease, and its modulation has important applications in biomedicine. Traditional modulation methods (e.g. diet, antibiotics, and probiotics) suffer from drug resistance, poor targeting, and low efficiency. Nanotechnology has become an attractive option for the precise modulation of gut microbiota due to its targeting and controllability. This review will focus on research progress in nanotechnology to modulate gut microbiota, including the direct use of nanomaterials as antimicrobials, nano-drug delivery systems, and stimulus-responsive nanotechnology. In addition, the applications of nanotechnology to modulate gut microbiota are summarized in terms of healthcare, animal protection, and agricultural development. Finally, the challenges and corresponding solution strategies for nanotechnology modulation are reviewed, and the future development prospects for nanotechnology modulation are summarized. This review provides an important theoretical basis and practical reference for the development of gut microbiota modulation, and promotes the research and application of more precise and efficient microbiota community intervention strategies.