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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Combatting Infections: The Role of Antibacterial Natural Products and Nanoparticles
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Combatting Infections: The Role of Antibacterial Natural Products and Nanoparticles

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Targeting and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2689

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Iwona Skiba-Kurek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, University Hospital, ul. Marii Orwid 11, 30-680 Krakow, Poland
Interests: antimicrobial; multidrug-resistant bacteria; antibacterial compounds; antimicrobial nanoparticles; pharmaceutical microbiology; bacterial and fungal biofilm
Dr. Carla Zannella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Woman, Child, and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: antiviral peptides; viral glycoproteins; dendrimer; natural extracts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fighting infections is one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine, and growing antibiotic resistance makes the search for new, effective solutions more urgent than ever. Natural products with antibacterial properties and nanotechnology play an increasingly important role in this fight. Plants, fungi, and other organisms have long been sources of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils, which exhibit potent antibacterial activity. Their mechanisms of action often differ from those of synthetic antibiotics, allowing them to overcome existing resistance mechanisms.

Furthermore, recent years have seen rapid development in nanotechnology in microbiology. Nanoparticles, especially those based on metals such as silver, zinc, copper or titanium dioxide, offer a novel approach to combating pathogens. Thanks to their small size and large surface area, nanoparticles can effectively damage bacterial cell membranes, inhibit their metabolism, and disrupt DNA replication. They often act synergistically with standard antibiotics, reducing their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and thus enhancing their efficacy. Combining natural products with nanoparticles opens up new possibilities for designing therapies that can not only combat infections but also limit the development of resistance.

In this Special Issue, readers will find an overview of current progress in this field, with examples of achievements in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria using natural products with antibacterial properties and nanotechnology.

Dr. Iwona Skiba-Kurek
Dr. Carla Zannella
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • multidrug-resistant bacteria
  • antibacterial compounds
  • antimicrobial nanoparticles
  • silver, zinc and copper nanoparticles
  • skin and wound infections
  • antibacterial mushroom extracts
  • dressings

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3313 KB  
Article
In Vitro Activity of Rezafungin Against Planktonic and Biofilm Forms of Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus Clinical Isolates from Vascular Infections in Poland: A Pilot Study
by Iwona Skiba-Kurek, Magdalena Namysł, Katarzyna Kania, Joanna Czekajewska, Anna Sepioło, Tomasz Gosiewski and Aldona Olechowska-Jarząb
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(2), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18020213 - 8 Feb 2026
Viewed by 925
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Certain yeast species are recognized as significant opportunistic pathogens, capable of causing severe systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or those with disrupted physiological barriers. The rising incidence of invasive candidiasis associated with vascular infections poses a significant clinical challenge due [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Certain yeast species are recognized as significant opportunistic pathogens, capable of causing severe systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or those with disrupted physiological barriers. The rising incidence of invasive candidiasis associated with vascular infections poses a significant clinical challenge due to the high mortality rates and the limited efficacy of conventional antifungal therapies. The formation of resilient biofilms on vascular catheters by species such as Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus further complicates treatment, often leading to persistent fungemia and necessitating device removal. With the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, there is a critical need for new therapeutic agents like rezafungin—a novel, long-acting echinocandin with potential enhanced antibiofilm activity. Methods: This study tested susceptibility to antimycotics available in Poland (fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin) using the commercial Micronaut-AM test (Bruker, Bremen, Germany). Susceptibility to rezafungin (Angene Chemical, Great Britain) was determined using the microdilution method in RPMI medium, recommended by European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), with amphotericin B as a control compound. We evaluated the biofilm-forming capacity and the in vitro activity of rezafungin against 42 clinical isolates of Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus recovered from positive blood cultures. Results: The obtained minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values suggest rezafungin activity against all the tested isolates, with different susceptibility to echinocandins and other antifungal drugs (azoles, amphotericin B) currently registered and used in Poland. The MIC readings for rezafungin were in the range of 0.008–0.5, with MIC50 = 0.016 and MIC90 = 0.25. The isolates were categorized as low, moderate, or strong biofilm producers according to established Stepanović criteria (cut-off values OD630 < 0.019, 0.19–0.38, >0.38, respectively). Furthermore, the higher minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) compared to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of planktonic cells confirm the reduced activity of rezafungin against biofilms. Conclusions: Critically, the high antibiofilm efficacy at clinically achievable concentrations suggests that rezafungin shows promise as a potential therapeutic option for catheter-related candidemia, though further clinical studies are needed. Furthermore, the high susceptibility of N. glabratus isolates—a species frequently associated with azole resistance—suggests rezafungin may be a valuable addition to the existing antifungal arsenal of multidrug-resistant (MDR) fungal infections in hospital settings. Future research should focus on in vivo models to confirm if these in vitro results translate into accelerated clearance of vascular biofilms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Combatting Infections: The Role of Antibacterial Natural Products and Nanoparticles)
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Review

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26 pages, 1656 KB  
Review
Natural Products and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Mechanisms, Synergistic Interactions, and Therapeutic Potential
by Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini, Mahmoud Jaber and Ayman Elbehiry
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(5), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18050515 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1269
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major clinical problem due to its resistance, virulence, and biofilm formation, which diminish antibiotic efficacy. This review explores natural products and antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) as alternative and combined strategies for controlling MRSA. Natural compounds, such as plant [...] Read more.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major clinical problem due to its resistance, virulence, and biofilm formation, which diminish antibiotic efficacy. This review explores natural products and antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) as alternative and combined strategies for controlling MRSA. Natural compounds, such as plant metabolites, essential oils, antimicrobial peptides, and fungal products, act by disrupting membranes, interfering with cellular processes, and limiting biofilm formation. Antimicrobial NPs, especially metal and metal oxide materials, act through membrane damage, oxidative stress, and metal ion release, enabling activity against resistant bacteria and improving biofilm penetration. Combining natural products with NPs increases stability, delivery, and local activity, enhances antibacterial effects, and reduces effective doses. Green synthesis enables direct integration of bioactive compounds, while nano-delivery platforms optimize solubility and controlled release. Nanotechnology-based applications such as wound dressings, nanocarriers, and multifunctional platforms support localized and sustained treatment and promote tissue repair. Despite these advances, clinical use is still constrained by safety concerns, variability in NP properties, and the lack of standardized evaluation and regulatory frameworks. Overall, combining natural products with antimicrobial NPs offers a practical strategy to augment MRSA treatment, but further progress depends on consistent design, robust safety evaluation, and clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Combatting Infections: The Role of Antibacterial Natural Products and Nanoparticles)
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