Thymol-Decorated Gold Nanoparticles for Curing Clinical Infections Caused by Bacteria Resistant to Last-Resort Antibiotics
Zeyu Huang, Xiaotuan Zhang, Zhuocheng Yao, Yijia Han, Jianzhong Ye, Yi Zhang, Lijiang Chen, Mo Shen, Tieli Zhou
Abstract
Excessive use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance and the development of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic misuse can also promote resistance against last-resort antibiotics. It is thus crucial to develop alternatives to antibiotics to retard the development of multidrug resistance. In recent years, the use of several nanodosage forms of antibacterial drugs has been investigated. These agents kill bacteria through a variety of mechanisms and avoid the problem of resistance. Among them, Au NPs, which are safer to use for medical applications than other metal nanoparticles, have attracted interest as potential antibacterial agents. To combat bacterial resistance to last-resort antibiotics and mitigate the problem of antimicrobial resistance, it is important and meaningful to develop antimicrobial agents based on Au NPs.