Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Against Superbugs: Mechanistic Insights, Biomedical Applications, and Translational Frontiers
Ayman Elbehiry, Adil Abalkhail
Abstract
The accelerating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) demands transformative strategies that go beyond conventional antibiotic therapies. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as versatile antimicrobial agents, offering a combination of physical, chemical, and immunological mechanisms to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Their small size, surface tunability, and ability to disrupt microbial membranes, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and deliver antibiotics directly to infection sites position them as powerful tools for infection control. This narrative review explores the major classes, mechanisms of action, and biomedical applications of antimicrobial NPs-including their roles in wound healing, implant coatings, targeted drug delivery, inhalation-based therapies, and the treatment of intracellular infections. We also highlight the current landscape of clinical trials and evolving regulatory frameworks that govern the translation of these technologies into clinical practice. A distinctive feature of this review is its focus on the interplay between NPs and the human microbiota-an emerging frontier with significant implications for therapeutic efficacy and safety. Addressing this bidirectional interaction is essential for developing microbiota-informed, safe-by-design nanomedicines. Despite promising advances, challenges such as scalability, regulatory standardization, and long-term biosafety remain. With interdisciplinary collaboration and continued innovation, antimicrobial NPs could reshape the future of infectious disease treatment and help curb the growing tide of AMR.