Potential of Nanoparticles Integrated with Antibacterial Properties in Preventing Biofilm and Antibiotic Resistance

Abstract

Nanotechnology has become an emerging technology in the medical field and is widely applicable for various clinical applications. The potential use of nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents is greatly explored and taken into consideration as alternative methods to overcome the challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients in preventing infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Among microorganisms, bacterial infections remain a major hurdle and are responsible for high morbidity and mortality globally, especially involving those with medical conditions and elderly populations. Over time, these groups are more vulnerable to developing resistance to antibiotics, as bacterial biofilms are difficult to destroy or eliminate via antibiotics; thus, treatment becomes unsuccessful or ineffective. Mostly, bacterial biofilms and other microbes can be found on medical devices and wounds where they disperse their contents which cause infections. To inhibit biofilm formations and overcome antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial-loaded nanoparticles alone or combined with other substances could enhance the bactericidal activity of nanomaterials. This includes killing the pathogens effectively without harming other cells or causing any adverse effects to living cells. This review summarises the mechanisms of actions employed by the different types of nanoparticles which counteract infectious agents in reducing biofilm formation and improve antibiotic therapy for clinical usage.

Biofilms in Surgical Site Infections: Recent Advances and Novel Prevention and Eradication Strategies

“…It is also important to mention that nanotechnology-based approaches include a vast variety of NPs and nanocomposites, including polymer-based NPs, dendrimers, liposomes, and others. There are already manuscripts that have reviewed the use of liposomes as well as polymeric NPs with inherent antibiofilm activity [ 80 , 81 , 82 ]. Polymeric NPs are the most successful NPs used as antibacterial and antibiofilm strategies since these composites have shown great potential for targeted delivery of drugs in the biomedical industry [ 80 , 81 ].…”

“…There are already manuscripts that have reviewed the use of liposomes as well as polymeric NPs with inherent antibiofilm activity [ 80 , 81 , 82 ]. Polymeric NPs are the most successful NPs used as antibacterial and antibiofilm strategies since these composites have shown great potential for targeted delivery of drugs in the biomedical industry [ 80 , 81 ]. They present attractive properties, such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity to biological systems, biodegradability, stability during storage, controlled release, target delivery, and harmfulness to pathogenic microbes, resulting in higher therapeutic efficacy [ 83 ].…”

The In Vitro Ability of Klebsiella pneumoniae to Form Biofilm and the Potential of Various Compounds to Eradicate It from Urinary Catheters

“…With respect to human pathogenesis, it is commonly accepted that 80% of infections, including nosocomial ones, are related to the presence of biofilm [1], referred to in this case as "medical biofilm". This form of microbial existence related to the macroorganism (patient) displays a high tolerance to antimicrobial agents (e.g., antibiotics, antiseptics) and to the immune system's non-cellular (e.g., antibodies, peptides) and cellular elements (e.g., neutrophils, macrophages, leukocytes).…”

“…These complex populations of microorganisms (of the same or different species) are embedded within a heterogeneous extracellular matrix consisting of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and extracellular DNA (eDNA). Biofilm can float at the air-liquid interface or it can be attached to biotic or abiotic surfaces [1]. Biofilms are characterized by high tolerance to all types of disadvantageous environmental conditions.…”

“…The cells with slow metabolism are characterized by increased tolerance to those antimicrobials which act by inhibiting their activity [8,9]. The biofilm structure also contains dead cells in an advanced state of decomposition [1]. The eDNA, released from cells as a result of lysis, binds the extracellular matrix of the living cells, intertwines with it and increases the values of the matrix mechanical parameters.…”