Nanoparticle-Associated Lipopeptides: A New Class of Antimicrobials

Abstract

AbstractNanoparticles (NPs) are of size 1–100 nm and can be made from carbon, metal oxides or organic matter. All NPs have ability to show distinguished physical, biological and chemical properties at nanoscale. NPs exhibit properties like increased reactivity, increased stability in a chemical process, enhanced mechanical strength, dispersion, etc. These gather much attention because of their different and interesting properties, applications and advantages over bulk counterparts. NPs have different size, shape and structure. They can be hollow core, cylindrical, spherical, tubular, spiral, conical, flat or even irregular. They also differ in structure which can range from amorphous to crystalline with one or more crystals. NPs are generally eco-friendly and non-toxic, and hence they are amenable for biomedical applications. Lipopeptides (LPs) are amphiphilic molecules comprising of a lipid associated with the peptide head group. These are self-get together particles which can shape peptide-functionalized supra-atomic nanostructures. The self-get togetherness of LPs encourages the introduction of peptide functionalities at exceptionally high thickness on the outside of nanostructures, for example, fibrils, micelles and vesicles. LPs find use in different industries most important being medicine industry where they are used for preparation of antimicrobial drugs. LPs have shown prominent results in cancer treatment as well. NPs are vastly used in medical industry as a potent drug delivery system. LPs which have property of biosurfactants have capacity to be incorporated in the NPs. Surfactin, a type of LPs, can orchestrate both silver and gold NPs in which this surfactin lipopeptide utilized as a layout or settling operator assumes a key job in the adjustment of the NPs. Gold NPs’ quality is guaranteed by their stability. LPs associated with NPs (LP-NP molecule) can act as important medicinal molecules. A target-specific LP-NP molecule can result in efficient drug delivery, e.g. lipopeptide NPs are among the most potent NPs for the transfer of selective siRNA delivery in non-human primates and rodents. siRNA therapeutic is used for the treatment genetic disorders. Encoding of this siRNA on to the nanoparticle structure of lipopeptide ensures its target drug delivery up to the point of genetic disorder. Antimicrobial properties of the LPs can be explored in to make a target-specific drug in association of NPs. There is vast future of possibility for LP-NP molecules in the medicinal field. In this chapter we will try to address some ongoing research and a futuristic approach in which LP-NP association can result as a boon for medical industry.KeywordsNanoparticle(s)Lipopeptide(s)LP-NP associationTarget specificityDrug delivery