Nanocomposites of Metal Nanoparticles and Polymer as Platform of Alternative Approach in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

As toxic microorganisms have developed resistance to each new antibiotic over the course of several decades, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has evolved into a complicated public health problem of the present. It makes infections more difficult to cure and raises the risk of disease transmission. Faced with this reality and the necessity for action to find new sources of materials as an alternative to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, scientists have been directed toward the development of nanomaterials that exhibit these properties. Among them are the nanocomposites of metal nanoparticles (silver, copper, zinc, etc.) and polymers that provide high surface area, sorption capacity, and selectivity for target microbes. However, as significant as the development of new nanomaterials is, innovation without focusing on their potential side effects does not improve health outcomes. In this chapter, we will review our research and discuss new advancements for innovative nanocomposites in countering AMR and their cytotoxicity, covering the background of the recent literature.