A review of the antimicrobial potential of precious metal derived nanoparticle constructs

Abstract

The field of nanotechnology is rapidly growing. The promise of pharmacotherapeutics emerging from this vast field has drawn the attention of many researchers. However, with the increase in the prevalence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, the manifestations of these promises are needed now more than ever. Many have postulated the antimicrobial potential of nanoparticle constructs derived from precious metals/noble metals nanoparticles (NMNPs), such as silver nanoparticles that show activity against multidrug resistant bacteria. In this review we will evaluate the current studies and explore the data to obtain a clear picture of the potential of these particles and the validity of the claims of drug resistant treatments with NMNPs.

Treatment Processes for Microbial Resistance Mitigation: The Technological Contribution to Tackle the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance

“…With the development of nanotechnologies, new treatment methods against AMR include developing new drugs by the combination of antibiotics or pharmaceutical agents with metal nanoparticles or during the synthesis of antimicrobial polymers [16,[141][142][143][144]. Antimicrobial polymers (AMP) were developed based on antimicrobial peptide properties to inhibit or kill bacteria [145].…”

“…Some of these materials have proved to be effective in reducing the number of resistant bacteria (ARB) in wastewater, but less effective for removing ARG. Among the metals that have been used for nanoparticle synthesis and that have shown antimicrobial properties are iron, gold, palladium, and silver [141,144,149,150], with silver NPs (nanoparticles) being the most extensively used [143]. However, other rare metals, such as yttrium, could have potential antimicrobial properties that could represent a promising future for nanotechnology as a treatment process for antibacterial resistance (Rice, 2019).…”

Nystatin-mediated bismuth oxide nano-drug synthesis using gamma rays for increasing the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against some pathogenic bacteria andCandidaspecies

“…9 The elevated number of drug-resistant fungal pathogens and the toxicity of the present antifungal composites have focused signicant attention to the antimicrobial potential of biogenic nano-based composites. 10 It must be noted that a small number of antifungal agents have been prepared for use in yeast treatment, most of which are considered as fungistatic. One of the key challenges associated with the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections with conventional drugs is that a tremendous resistance to antimicrobial drugs can occur, which is thus driving the research for alternative therapies.…”

Ag/H-ZIF-8 Nanocomposite as an Effective Antibacterial Agent Against Pathogenic Bacteria

“…In the past decades, bacterial infections have become a major threat to public health, especially with the abuse of antibiotics and chemical bactericides. Hence, considerable efforts have been devoted to the development of novel and effective antibacterial agents to control the pathogenic bacteria growth [1,2,3]. Recently, inorganic disinfectants have been becoming particularly attractive as alternatives to organic compounds because they are more stable, easier to produce and environmentally benign.…”

“…It is well known that nano-sized silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) are excellent antimicrobial agents against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria [3,4,5]. However, nano-structured silver nanoparticles without surface functionalization/stabilization are thermodynamically unstable and are easily aggregated into large inactive particles [6].…”