Nanoparticles and their potential application as antimicrobials

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases and the increase in incidence of drug resistance among pathogenic bacteria have made the search for new antimicrobials inevitable. In the current situation, one of the most promising and novel therapeutic agents are the nanoparticles. The unique physiochemical properties of the nanoparticles combined with the growth inhibitory capacity against microbes has led to the upsurge in the research on nanoparticles and their potential application as antimicrobials. From centuries metals such as silver have been used for treating burns and chronic wounds, and copper has been used to make water potable. It is quite evident that some of the metallic compounds possess antimicrobial property. Recently, the confluence of nanotechnology and biology has brought to fore metals in the form of nanoparticles as potential antimicrobial agents. Nanoparticles have unique and well defined physical and chemical properties which can be manipulated suitably for desired applications. Moreover, their potent antimicrobial efficacy due to the large surface area to volume ratio has provided them an edge over their chemical counterparts which are facing the problems of drug resistance. This review focuses on the properties of different types of metallic nanoparticles such as copper, aluminium, gold, silver, magnesium, zinc and titanium nanoparticles. The mechanism of action of nanoparticles as bactericidal, antifungal and antiviral agents will be highlighted in this study. The potential application of nanoparticles will be also reviewed. The application of nanoparticles as antimicrobials is gaining relevance in prophylaxis and therapeutics, in medical devices, food industry and textile fabrics. The problems related to toxicity of nanoparticles will be addressed in brief.