Nanotechnology has expanded into a broad range of clinical applications. In particular, metal nanoparticles (MNPs) display unique antimicrobial properties, a fundamental function of novel medical devices. Combining MNPs with commercial antimicrobial drugs (e. g., antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals) may offer several opportunities to overcome some disadvantages of their individual use and enhance effectiveness. MNPs-conjugates display multiple advantages. As drug delivery systems, the conjugates can extend the circulation of the drugs in the body, facilitate intercellular targeting, improve drug stabilization, and possess superior delivery. Concomitantly, they reduce the required drug dose, minimize toxicity and broaden the antimicrobial spectrum. In this work, the common strategies to combine MNPs with clinically used antimicrobial agents are underscored. Furthermore, a comprehensive survey about synergistic antimicrobial effects, mechanism of action and cytotoxicity is depicted.
SilverAntimicrobial, drug deliver, anticancer, anti-angiogenic and biosensors 46,47 Gold Drug delivery, catalyst for medical therapy, antimicrobial conjugations, anticancer, gene therapy and diagnostic 48,49 Copper and copper oxide Antimicrobial and catalysis 50, 51
Iron and iron oxideAnticancer therapy, magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drug delivery and cell separation catalysis [52][53][54] Zinc oxide Personal care products, coatings, drug delivery, anticancer and antimicrobial
55, 56Aluminum oxide Drug delivery, biosensing, cancer therapy, antimicrobial, biomolecular preservation, immunotherapy 57
Titanium oxideDrug delivery, photodynamic therapy, cell imaging, biosensors, and genetic engineering, antimicrobial 58,59 Platinum Biomedical devices, anticancer therapies, cardiovascular diseases, bioimaging, nanozymes, biosensors, antimicrobial 60, 61
PalladiumPhotothermal agents, photoacoustic agents, antimicrobial, anticancer, gene/drug carriers, prodrug activators and biosensors 62,63 Scheme 1. MNPs used in biomedical applications.
Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs)AgNPs are the most prevalent inorganic nanoparticles applied as antimicrobial agent. AgNPs have demonstrated high antimicrobial activity comparable to Ag ionic form. However, several concerns have emerged regarding their cytotoxicity. The toxicity mechanisms, long-term accumulation effects and dose-response relationship are still grievously unknown. 64
Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs)AuNPs are extremely valuable in developing antibacterial agents due to their low toxicity, high propensity for functionalization, eclectic effects, easy detection and photothermal activity. AuNPs per se possess very low antimicrobial activity, but numerous studies on the antimicrobial activity of AuNPs conjugated with small molecules, such as drugs, vaccines and antibodies, have been reported.