Antibiotic-Free Antibacterial Strategies Enabled by Nanomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

The discovery of antibiotics has had a profound effect on modern medicine, which has transformed human health and saved millions of lives. However, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics have given rise to the development of the ever-increasing level of resistance, posing another global treat of “Superbugs”. Solutions to this problem call for “out-of-the-box” thinking to develop a powerful weaponized alternative to antibiotics. Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided new opportunities to address this issue by killing the germs without using antibiotics. Currently, there has emerged a number of antibiotic‐free antibacterial strategies that have been enabled by functional nanomaterials. In this Special Issue, we aim to showcase the most recent advances in the design and application of antibacterial nanomaterials, discuss novel antibacterial strategies, and share perspectives in shaping an antibiotic-free path to treat infections. Contributions including, but not limited to, original research papers, up-to-date reviews, and perspectives of the following and related topics are invited:

• Design and fabrication of nanomaterials for antibacterial applications;
• Nanoformulations of natural antimicrobial agents;
• Metal/metal oxide-based antibacterial nanoparticles;
• Carbon-based (e.g., graphene, CNTs, etc.) antibacterial agents;
• Nanozyme for antibacterial applications;
• Surface engineering/coating for biofilm inhibition and elimination;
• Antibacterial nanomaterials used in food science and crop protection;
• Novel nanotechnologies for antibacterial applications;
• Perspectives in the safety, regulation and translation of antibacterial nanomaterials.

Dr. Hao Song
Guest Editor

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