Alternative Antimicrobial Approach: Nano-Antimicrobial Materials
Despite numerous existing potent antibiotics and other antimicrobial means, bacterial infections are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the need to develop additional bactericidal means has significantly increased due to the growing concern regarding multidrug-resistant bacte...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Hindawi Limited
2015-01-01
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Series: | Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/246012 |
Summary: | Despite numerous existing potent antibiotics and other antimicrobial means, bacterial infections are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the need to develop additional bactericidal means has significantly increased due to the growing concern regarding multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and biofilm associated infections. Consequently, attention has been especially devoted to new and emerging nanoparticle-based materials in the field of antimicrobial chemotherapy. The present review discusses the activities of nanoparticles as an antimicrobial means, their mode of action, nanoparticle effect on drug-resistant bacteria, and the risks attendant on their use as antibacterial agents. Factors contributing to nanoparticle performance in the clinical setting, their unique properties, and mechanism of action as antibacterial agents are discussed in detail. |
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ISSN: | 1741-427X 1741-4288 |