Nano-antibiotics: Nanotechnology in Fighting Against Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Infectious diseases pose a worldwide threat due to the development of multiple drug resistance, demanding a rapidly increasing need for the production of new therapeutics. However, the cost, labor, and time required to develop, synthesize, and implement new antibiotics is ever increasing, and it has become necessary to investigate the utility of nanomaterials in treating infections. Many nanomaterials have intrinsic antimicrobial properties in addition to easily tunable physicochemical properties that allow for greater specifi city and effi cacy over traditional antibiotics. This book chapter summarizes the advantages of nanomaterials and nano-delivery systems over current therapeutics, the mechanisms of action, the current applications in industrial and clinical settings, and the future challenges to be met in the fi ght against infectious disease.Handbook of Nanobiomedical Research Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com by MONASH UNIVERSITY on 12/07/14. For personal use only.

Fight against COVID-19: The case of antiviral surfaces

“…The effectiveness of nanoparticles can be realized by the mechanism such as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell wall/membranes disruption, interruption of energy transduction and enzyme activity inhibition, and DNA damage. 17 Although there are number of nanoparticles utilized for therapeutic applications, silver, gold, and copper are the most well-known antimicrobial agents.…”