Microbial colonization on material surfaces is ubiquitous. Biofilms derived from surface-colonized microbes pose serious problems to the society from both an economical perspective and a health concern. Incorporation of antimicrobial nanocompounds within or on the surface of materials, or by coatings, to prevent microbial adhesion or kill the microorganisms after their attachment to biofilms, represents an important strategy in an increasingly challenging field. Over the last decade, many studies have been devoted to preparing meta-based nanomaterials that possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities to combat pathogen-related diseases. Herein, an overview on the state-of-the-art antimicrobial nanosized metal-based compounds is provided, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles as well as transition metal nanosheets. The antimicrobial mechanism of these nanostructures and their biomedical applications such as catheters, implants, medical delivery systems, tissue engineering, and dentistry are discussed. Their properties as well as potential caveats such as cytotoxicity, diminishing efficacy, and induction of antimicrobial resistance of materials incorporating these nanostructures are reviewed to provide a backdrop for future research.

Bacteria play an important role in the calcification process of natural minerals and within organisms ( Table 1). It is Microbe-mediated mineralization is ubiquitous in nature, involving bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algae. These mineralization processes comprise calcification, silicification, and iron mineralization. The mechanisms for mineral formation include extracellular and intracellular biomineralization. The mineral precipitating capability of microbes is often harnessed for green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, which are relatively less toxic compared with those synthesized through physical or chemical methods. Microbe-mediated mineralization has important applications ranging from pollutant removal and nonreactive carriers, to other industrial and biomedical applications. Herein, the different types of microbe-mediated biomineralization that occur in nature, their mechanisms, as well as their applications are elucidated to create a backdrop for future research.

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is an important issue in contemporary society. To date, infection‐related problems persist despite intensive research efforts by chemists and biologists. Much effort has been devoted over the last decade to the development of organic/nonmetallic inorganic nanocompounds with antimicrobial activities for overcoming human infections and illnesses produced by antibiotic‐resistant pathogens. Both organic nanomaterials such as chitosan nanoparticles and conductive‐based polymer nanocompounds, as well as nonmetallic inorganic nanomaterials such as carbon‐based nanocompounds and modified nanoceramics, have been manufactured and employed in medicine for treating multidrug‐resistant infections. This review describes the most recent advances in the biomedical applications of antibacterial organic/nonmetallic inorganic nanocompounds.

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