Unlocking the synergistic potential of green metallic nanoparticles and antibiotics for antibacterial and wound healing activities.

The discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century has played a crucial role in contemporary medicine for treating bacterial infections; however, the rise of antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to their efficacy, creating a global health crisis. On the other hand, the lack of discovery of new antibiotics for overcoming resistance has stagnated. In this context, metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) prepared with green approaches (P-MNPs) have emerged as viable options for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria and inhibiting biofilm formation. Additionally, when combined with commercial antibiotics, P-MNPs enhance drug delivery, improve circulation, and effectively target bacteria, reducing the required dosage and expanding antibacterial activity while maintaining biocompatibility. In this review, synergistic antibacterial mechanisms of P-MNPs and antibiotics (nAbts), their wound healing and cytotoxicity studies are underscored, which paves a road map for the researchers and medical practitioners to use nAbts in clinical translations.