Metal Nanoparticles As Alternative Antimicrobial Agents to Combat Multidrug Resistance Bacteria

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a significant global health concern. The development of novel and effective antimicrobial agents is a pressing challenge. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) and their bio-conjugates have attracted considerable attention as potential antimicrobial agents due to their distinct properties. They hold promise for selective detection and treatment of bacteria. This chapter presents a summary of recent endeavors in creating diverse antimicrobial agents based on MNPs and their conjugates to address the issue of MDR bacteria. The discussion commences with an introduction to fundamental concepts and mechanisms involving the detection of bacteria through optical, magnetic, and electrochemical methods, as well as therapeutic approaches including photothermal, photodynamic, and chemotherapy methods. Representative examples are examined to showcase both in vitro and in vivo proof-of-concept applications. Finally, challenges and a prospective outlook of this research area were summarized.