Functionalized Materials, Nanocarriers and Formulations for Targeted Antimicrobial Therapy

Microbial infections persist as a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The emergence of resistance has made it imperative to search for novel methods, which can combat the microbial infections. Wherein, nanomedicine is a major driving force behind ongoing changes in the antimicrobial field. Its application in microbiology is gaining importance to prevent the catastrophic consequences of antibiotic resistance. Nanotechnology based approaches are advantageous to improve various preventive measures such as coatings and filtration. Similarly, diagnosis using efficient nanosensors or probes can speed up the treatment process at an early stage of disease. Nano-based drug carriers for existing antibiotics enhance their bioavailability and make them more targets specific. Also the combination of nanoparticles along with antibiotics makes them more lethal for micro-organisms. Furthermore, targeted delivery (TD) of antimicrobial drugs using nanotechnology provides an extra edge to the effort. TD approaches could achieve even higher doses of drug at the site of infection with fewer adverse effects. It may also increase the success rate of therapy for chronic and persistent infections, such as slow-growing or even dormant bacterial infections, which are important challenges in antimicrobial therapy and require frequent administration of high-dose antibiotics. In addition to targeted nanoparticle delivery, other targeting strategies have utilized the unique microenvironment at the site of infection, such as low pH, enzyme overexpression, and bacterial toxins. Hence, this topic aims to cover the current progress of nanomedicine in the management of microbial infection, including diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, drug delivery, medical devices, and vaccines.