Metal-based nanoparticles for combating antibiotic resistance

The resistance to antibiotics in combating bacteria is a serious worldwide problem. The search for new approaches to address antibacterial resistance is therefore of crucial importance and seeking alternatives for the treatment and control of bacterial diseases associated with resistant strains, which is in need of urgent action. There is an ongoing interest in metal-based nanoparticles (MBNPs) and their usage syn- ergy with antibiotics due to their unique properties, such as overcoming bacterial resistance, reducing acute toxicity compared to their sizes, and allowing dosage reduction of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Combining MBNPs and antibiotics not only enhances the antibacterial effect but also allows the inhibition of biofilm production. Furthermore, MBNPs and antibiotics incorporated in polymeric biomaterial matrix have been widely studied to improve their efficiency and devoid the resistance. However, these studies need to be combined in a litera- ture review. Polymeric biomaterials offer high mechanical stability with improved biocompatibility. Moreover, their use makes a single dose of administration of the final product with extended antibiotic half-life possible while slowly releasing their reservoir, which is an advantage in continuously combating resistance. This review focuses on different promising biomedical strategies for enhancing the bactericidal efficacy of antibiotics by the synergistic use of MBNPs, antibiotics, and polymeric biomaterials together to combat the resistance of different bacterial strains. In addition, it is prospected to guide opportunities for new research for future biomedical applications.