Metal Nanomaterials: A Strategy to Combat Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections pose a major challenge today due to the rise of drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria, creating an urgent need for the development of nonantibiotic therapies. Metal nanomaterials are increasingly recognized as promising antibacterial agents due to their unique physical and chemical properties, which offer strong antibacterial capabilities and broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant bacteria. Unlike traditional antibacterial therapies, metal nanomaterials rarely induce drug resistance because of their diverse antibacterial mechanisms, which destroy bacteria by directly damaging bacterial cells or generating oxidative stress. Metal nanomaterials have proven effective in treating various drug-resistant bacterial infections. This perspective highlights recent advances in metal nanomaterials for antimicrobial applications. Firstly, bacterial infections and the current dilemma are introduced. Next, recent progress in the antibacterial activity of metal nanomaterials against drug-resistant bacteria is summarized, along with the challenges in their antimicrobial applications. Finally, future prospects and remaining challenges associated with the use of metal nanomaterials to treat drug-resistant bacteria are discussed.