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Microorganisms
Volume 9
Issue 2
10.3390/microorganisms9020364
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Review

Metallic Nanoparticles—Friends or Foes in the Battle against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria?

by
Francisco Amaro
*,
Álvaro Morón
,
Silvia Díaz
,
Ana Martín-González
and
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez
Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020364
Submission received: 27 January 2021 / Revised: 8 February 2021 / Accepted: 10 February 2021 / Published: 12 February 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Responses to Metal Stress, Molecular Mechanisms, Challenges and Implications)
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Abstract

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistances among bacteria demands novel strategies for infection control, and metallic nanoparticles appear as promising tools because of their unique size and tunable properties that allow their antibacterial effects to be maximized. Furthermore, their diverse mechanisms of action towards multiple cell components have suggested that bacteria could not easily develop resistance against nanoparticles. However, research published over the last decade has proven that bacteria can indeed evolve stable resistance mechanisms upon continuous exposure to metallic nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize the currently known individual and collective strategies employed by bacteria to cope with metallic nanoparticles. Importantly, we also discuss the adverse side effects that bacterial exposure to nanoparticles may have on antibiotic resistance dissemination and that might constitute a challenge for the implementation of nanoparticles as antibacterial agents. Overall, studies discussed in this review point out that careful management of these very promising antimicrobials is necessary to preserve their efficacy for infection control.
Keywords: nanoparticles; heavy metals; resistance; antibiotic resistance; oxidative stress nanoparticles; heavy metals; resistance; antibiotic resistance; oxidative stress

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MDPI and ACS Style

Amaro, F.; Morón, Á.; Díaz, S.; Martín-González, A.; Gutiérrez, J.C. Metallic Nanoparticles—Friends or Foes in the Battle against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria? Microorganisms 2021, 9, 364. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020364

AMA Style

Amaro F, Morón Á, Díaz S, Martín-González A, Gutiérrez JC. Metallic Nanoparticles—Friends or Foes in the Battle against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria? Microorganisms. 2021; 9(2):364. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020364

Chicago/Turabian Style

Amaro, Francisco, Álvaro Morón, Silvia Díaz, Ana Martín-González, and Juan Carlos Gutiérrez. 2021. "Metallic Nanoparticles—Friends or Foes in the Battle against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria?" Microorganisms 9, no. 2: 364. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020364

APA Style

Amaro, F., Morón, Á., Díaz, S., Martín-González, A., & Gutiérrez, J. C. (2021). Metallic Nanoparticles—Friends or Foes in the Battle against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria? Microorganisms, 9(2), 364. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020364

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