Abstract
Infectious diseases pose one of the greatest health challenges in the medical world. Though numerous antimicrobial drugs are commercially available, they often lack effectiveness against recently developed multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms. This results in high antibiotic dose administration and a need to develop new antibiotics, which in turn requires time, money, and labor investments. Recently, biogenic metallic nanoparticles have proven their effectiveness against MDR microorganisms, individually and in synergy with the current/conventional antibiotics. Importantly, biogenic nanoparticles are easy to produce, facile, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly in nature. In addition, biogenic nanoparticles are surrounded by capping layers, which provide them with biocompatibility and long-term stability. Moreover, these capping layers provide an active surface for interaction with biological components, facilitated by free active surface functional groups. These groups are available for modification, such as conjugation with antimicrobial drugs, genes, and peptides, in order to enhance their efficacy and delivery. This review summarizes the conventional antibiotic treatments and highlights the benefits of using nanoparticles in combating infectious diseases.
Highlights
The term ‘antibiotic’ hails from the word ‘antibiosis’
Antibacterial activity of AgNPs have been studied against the multidrug resistant bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella species, and Enterococcus species [71,72]
The infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms are a serious global healthcare issue
Summary
The term ‘antibiotic’ hails from the word ‘antibiosis’ (meaning against life). Antibiotics are chemical compounds, which can either kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The possible known mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria are; (1) reduced uptake of antimicrobial drugs and/or increased efflux of drugs, (2) alterations of antibiotic target, (3) development of drug degrading/modifying enzymes in microorganisms, and (4) formation of biofilm layer which surrounds the bacteria and avoids its exposure to antibiotics [10]. These possibilities result in either less accumulation of drugs in microbial cells or short intracellular residence of drugs, due to which the therapeutic levels of drugs cannot be achieved [11]. In this review,, wwee focused on conventional antibiotics, developing drug resistance, nanoparticle devellooppmmeenntt,,aannddovoevrecrocmominigndgrudgrurgesirsetsainsctaenpcreobplreombsle. mWse.aWlsoe faolcsuosefdocounsethde obniogtheneicbiitoygoefnmiceityalloicf nmaentoapllaicrtnicalneospaanrdtitchleesirafnudtuthreeiprefrustpuercetipveerss.pectives
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