Chapter 7 - Antibacterial Behavior of Hybrid Nanoparticles

Abstract

With the use of a low dose, noble metal and transition metal oxides nanoparticles have recently been reported as new effective antibiotics. In general, typical molecular antibiotics affect bacteria via one of three targets: (1) cell wall, (2) translational machinery, and (3) DNA replication. Whereas, nanoparticles could react simultaneously through various processes, such as (i) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), (ii) electrostatic interaction with the cell membrane, (iii) ion release, (iv) internalization, etc.