Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Nanodrugs

Abstract

Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. Preface to "Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Nanodrugs"Microbial infections have always posed a threat to public health, and the situation is becoming worse as some strains of these microorganisms develop resistance to drugs such as conventional antibiotics. With the rapid development of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, an increasing number of nanodrugs capable of fighting against various microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and viruses) have been designed and prepared. The diversified size, shape, and chemical characteristics enable nanomaterials to facilitate molecular interactions with the microorganisms, and the high surface-to-volume ratio allows the incorporation of abundant functional moieties to these nanomaterials, thus promoting multivalent interactions with the microorganism. To date, the most commonly used antimicrobial nanomaterials include conventional metal (Ag, Cu, Zn, and Ti)-containing nanoagents, two-dimensional nanoagents (e.g., graphene materials, layered double hydroxides, transition-metal dichalcogenides, graphitic carbon nitride, MXenes, black phosphorus, and their derivatives), polymeric nanomaterials, nanomicelles and nanovesicles, carbon dots and silicon nanoparticles, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) nanodots, nanocomposite materials, etc. In addition, the nanomaterials with specific light-, heat-, electricity-, magnetic field-, and ultrasound-responsive properties, as well as excellent antimicrobial activity, have also attracted interest from a growing number of researchers. Common examples include nanoagents with a photodynamic therapy capacity and sonodynamic therapy activity. Further, nanozymes with antimicrobial activity have also drawn tremendous research interest from many researchers worldwide. In addition, chemodynamic therapy that utilizes Fenton or Fenton-like reactions to kill microbial cells represents an emerging research direction. Finally, the nanomaterials decorated with conventional antibiotics have also shown potential for achieving an enhanced antimicrobial capacity compared with free antibiotics.