Carbon and polymer-based nanoparticles: a prospective antibiotic substitute in the livestock industry

The swift escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is regarded as one of the most significant public health challenges in contemporary history. Livestock serve as reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens due to their continual exposure to antimicrobials used as prophylactic and metaphylactic treatments. Various techniques have been devised to reduce livestock exposure to antimicrobials, including the prohibition of some antimicrobials. This method, however, has adversely affected the livestock business as animals are exposed to infectious infections, resulting in economic losses for farmers and diminished output from the agricultural sector. Consequently, a plan to substitute prohibited antimicrobial agents is essential, notably natural and sustainable materials to preserve animal health, so enhancing agricultural productivity and ultimately ensuring food security, without jeopardizing human health. This review examines the possibility of carbon and polymer-based nanoparticles as substitutes for antibiotics in the livestock sector, specifically regarding their impact on animals.