Nanotechnology as a Therapeutic Tool to Combat Microbial Resistance

Robert Y Pelgrift, Adam J Friedman

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013 Nov;65(13-14):1803-15.

PMID: 23892192

Abstract:

Use of nanoparticles is among the most promising strategies to overcome microbial drug resistance. This review article consists of three parts. The first part discusses the epidemiology of microbial drug resistance. The second part describes mechanisms of drug resistance used by microbes. The third part explains how nanoparticles can overcome this resistance, including the following: Nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles (NO NPs), chitosan-containing nanoparticles (chitosan NPs), and metal-containing nanoparticles all use multiple mechanisms simultaneously to combat microbes, thereby making development of resistance to these nanoparticles unlikely. Packaging multiple antimicrobial agents within the same nanoparticle also makes development of resistance unlikely. Nanoparticles can overcome existing drug resistance mechanisms, including decreased uptake and increased efflux of drug from the microbial cell, biofilm formation, and intracellular bacteria. Finally, nanoparticles can target antimicrobial agents to the site of infection, so that higher doses of drug are given at the infected site, thereby overcoming resistance.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP12063193	Zinc iron oxide		12063-19-3	Price
AP228402491	Copper zinc iron oxide		228402-49-1	Price