Obeid Mohammad A, Alyamani Hanin, Alenaizat Abdelrahman, Tunç Tutku, Aljabali Alaa A A, Alsaadi Manal M
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, P.O.BOX 566, Irbid, 21163, Jordan.
William Harvey Research Institute, Center for Microvascular Research, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Microb Pathog. 2025 Jun;203:107455. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107455. Epub 2025 Mar 7.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious contemporary global health concerns, threatening the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and resulting in morbidity, mortality, and economic burdens. This review examines the contribution of nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems to solving the problems associated with bacterial resistance and provides a thorough overview of their mechanisms of action, efficiency, and perspectives for the future. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, nanomaterials reveal new ways of passing through the traditional mechanisms of bacterial defence connected to the permeability barrier of membranes, efflux pumps, and biofilm formation. This review addresses the different types of nanomaterials, including metallic nanoparticles, liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles, in terms of their antimicrobial properties and modes of action. More emphasis has been placed on the critical discussion of recent studies on such active systems. Both in vitro and in vivo models are discussed, with particular attention paid to multidrug-resistant bacteria. This review begins by reviewing the urgency for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by citing recent statistics, which indicate that the number of deaths and reasons for financial losses continue to increase. A background is then provided on the limitations of existing antibiotic therapies and the pressing need to develop innovative approaches. Nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems have been proposed as promising solutions because of their potential to improve drug solubility, stability, and targeted delivery, although side effects can also be mitigated. In addition to established knowledge, this review also covers ongoing debates on the continuous risks associated with the use of nanomaterials, such as toxicity and environmental impact. This discussion emphasizes the optimization of nanomaterial design to target specific bacteria, and rigorous clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy in humans. It concludes with reflections on the future directions of nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems in fighting AMR, underlining the need for an interdisciplinary approach, along with continuous research efforts to translate these promising technologies into clinical practice. As the fight against bacterial resistance reaches its peak, nanomaterials may be the key to developing next-generation antimicrobial therapies.
抗菌耐药性是当代全球最严重的健康问题之一，它威胁着现有抗生素的有效性，并导致发病率、死亡率和经济负担。本综述探讨了基于纳米材料的药物递送系统在解决与细菌耐药性相关问题方面的贡献，并全面概述了其作用机制、效率和未来前景。由于其独特的物理化学性质，纳米材料展现出了突破与细菌防御传统机制相关的新途径，这些传统机制包括细胞膜的通透性屏障、外排泵和生物膜形成。本综述阐述了不同类型的纳米材料，包括金属纳米颗粒、脂质体和聚合物纳米颗粒的抗菌特性及作用方式。文中更着重对这类活性系统近期研究的批判性讨论。同时探讨了体外和体内模型，尤其关注多重耐药菌。本综述开篇通过引用近期统计数据回顾了抗菌耐药性（AMR）的紧迫性，这些数据表明死亡人数和经济损失原因持续增加。接着介绍了现有抗生素疗法的局限性以及开发创新方法的迫切需求。基于纳米材料的药物递送系统因其具有改善药物溶解度、稳定性和靶向递送的潜力而被视为有前景的解决方案，尽管其副作用也可得到缓解。除了已有的知识，本综述还涵盖了关于使用纳米材料持续存在的风险（如毒性和环境影响）的 ongoing debates。该讨论强调了纳米材料设计的优化以靶向特定细菌，以及进行严格的临床试验以确定其在人体中的安全性和有效性。最后，文章对基于纳米材料的药物递送系统在对抗AMR方面的未来方向进行了思考，强调了跨学科方法的必要性，以及持续的研究努力，以便将这些有前景的技术转化为临床实践。随着对抗细菌耐药性的斗争达到顶峰，纳米材料可能是开发下一代抗菌疗法的关键。
