Nano-therapeutics: A revolution in infection control in post antibiotic era

• Published in: Nanomedicine Vol. 13; no. 7; pp. 2281 - 2301
• Main Authors: Zaidi, Sahar, Misba, Lama, Khan, Asad U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotic resistance; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacterial infection; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug Carriers - therapeutic use; Drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Multidrug-resistant strains; Nanomedicine - methods; Nanoparticle; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - therapeutic use; Nanotechnology - methods; Bacterial infection; Drug delivery; Multidrug-resistant strains; Nanoparticle; Antibiotic resistance
• ISSN: 1549-9634; 1549-9642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.06.015

With the arrival of antibiotics 70 years ago, meant a paradigm shift in overcoming infectious diseases. For decades, drugs have been used to treat different infections. However, with time bacteria have become resistant to multiple antibiotics, making some diseases difficult to fight. Nanoparticles (NPs) as antibacterial agents appear to have potential to overcome such problems and to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections. Therefore, there is significant interest in the use of NPs to treat variety of infections, particularly caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This review begins with illustration of types of NPs followed by the literature of current research addressing mechanisms of NPs antibacterial activity, steps involved in NP mediated drug delivery as well as areas where NPs use has potential to improve the treatment, like NP enabled vaccination. Besides, recently emerged innovative NP platforms have been highlighted and their progress made in each area has been reviewed. Schematic representation of antibacterial efficacy of drug versus antibacterial efficacy nanoparticles: A & C. Untargeted drug delivery at infection site causes adverse effects on healthy neighboring cells. B & D. Targeted (cellular or tissue) delivery of nanoparticles at infection site is precise, safer and more effective and therefore provides better treatment. [Display omitted] •Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria appear as a perpetual threat due to the fading arsenal of e-cacious antibiotics.•Nanoparticles appear to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections especially caused by multi drug resistant strain.•Metallic and organic nanoparticles have been found to synergize the killing effect of antimicrobial agents.