New Era in Antimicrobial Strategies

A Special Issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923) belonging to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 4570

Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The new era in antimicrobial strategies needs to integrate rapid detection technologies, optimized use of existing drugs, and the development of innovative therapeutics. Advances in biosensors, microfluidics, next-generation sequencing, and artificial intelligence now enable the precise and timely detection of resistant infections, guiding targeted interventions and reducing empirical overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Alongside the search for novel therapies, emphasis should also be placed on maximizing the efficacy of available antibiotics through stewardship programs, combination regimens, and the optimization of dosing strategies. The use of drug repositioning is another current explored strategy that further expands the therapeutic options while reducing development costs and timelines. Complementary approaches, including bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, quorum-sensing inhibitors, microbiome modulation, nanomaterials, and CRISPR-based gene-editing technologies, are advancing toward clinical translation.

The convergence of rapid diagnostics, rational use of available antibiotics, drug repurposing, and next-generation antimicrobials heralds a shift from reactive to precision-driven infection management. In this context, this Special Issue seeks to uncover novel strategies and/or chemicals that can help improve the success of bacterial treatment.

This Special Issue invites the contributions of original research articles and reviews on nano-enabled approaches that advance bacterial infection management from detection to treatment, including drug repurposing and combination therapies.

- Nanotechnology in rapid detection and diagnostics;

- Nanoparticle-enabled antimicrobial delivery;

- Nanotechnology in novel and adjunct antimicrobial strategies;

- Integration with artificial intelligence and precision medicine;

- Safety, regulatory, and translational considerations.

Pharmaceutics invites submissions related to drug delivery systems and innovative formulations, while Future Pharmacology encourages contributions centered on drug metabolism/molecular pharmacology aspects. I look forward to receiving your contributions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Future Pharmacology.

Dr. Sandra N. Pinto
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • phage therapy
  • microbiome
  • host-directed therapy
  • nanoparticles
  • precision medicine
  • antimicrobial agents
  • drug repositioning

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

35 pages, 8708 KB  
Review
Phenotype-Guided Nanotherapeutic Strategies for Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: Toward Precision Antimicrobial Intervention
by Ayman Elbehiry, Adil Abalkhail, Fahad A. Alhumaydhi and Eman Marzouk
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(6), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060716 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 1010
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is considered a persistent clinical problem characterized by high mortality and restricted therapeutic options. The current antimicrobial regimen focuses on active bacteria without taking into account physiological states that influence the treatment response. Biofilm formation, metabolic changes, efflux activity, [...] Read more.
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is considered a persistent clinical problem characterized by high mortality and restricted therapeutic options. The current antimicrobial regimen focuses on active bacteria without taking into account physiological states that influence the treatment response. Biofilm formation, metabolic changes, efflux activity, and membrane remodeling reduce antibiotic activity at infection sites and help bacteria survive despite in vitro susceptibility. Clinical performance is also compromised by inadequate tissue penetration, toxicity, and inconsistent pharmacokinetics, which reduce the ability to maintain effective antimicrobial activity at the target site. Therefore, a new strategy is needed that considers how bacteria behave during infection. Nanotherapeutic systems can optimize antimicrobial delivery by changing drug distribution and enabling sustained antimicrobial release within infected tissues. These properties can improve antimicrobial distribution within biofilms and structurally restricted infection sites. This review proposes a phenotype-guided approach linking dominant bacterial phenotypes with targeted nanotherapeutic intervention. Advances in nanoscale diagnostics and computational analysis allow earlier identification and more precise characterization of resistance features, so treatment decisions reflect the current state of infection. When integrated with nanotechnology, this information supports treatment approaches that adapt to changes in bacterial behavior over time. Extending this concept to host-directed and microbiome-informed interventions provides additional control by addressing factors that sustain infection beyond the pathogen. These elements create an integrated system that connects detection, analysis, and treatment, allowing therapy to match the biological conditions of infection for more precise CRAB management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Era in Antimicrobial Strategies)
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33 pages, 4734 KB  
Review
Targeting Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis: Structural Insights and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
by Bharat Kumar Reddy Sanapalli, Christopher R. Jones and Vidyasrilekha Sanapalli
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(1), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010106 - 13 Jan 2026
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2958
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens has heightened the urgency for novel antibacterial agents. The bacterial cell wall usually comprises peptidoglycan, which presents a prime target for antibacterial drug development due to its indispensable role in maintaining cellular integrity. Conventional antibiotics such [...] Read more.
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens has heightened the urgency for novel antibacterial agents. The bacterial cell wall usually comprises peptidoglycan, which presents a prime target for antibacterial drug development due to its indispensable role in maintaining cellular integrity. Conventional antibiotics such as β-lactams and glycopeptides hinder peptidoglycan synthesis through competitive binding of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and sequestration of lipid-linked precursor molecules. Nevertheless, prevalent resistance mechanisms including target modification, β-lactamase hydrolysis, and multi-drug efflux pumps have limited their clinical utility. This comprehensive analysis explicates the molecular machinery underlying bacterial cell wall assembly, evaluates both explored and unexplored enzymatic nodes within this pathway, and highlights the transformative impact of high-resolution structural elucidation in accelerating structure-guided drug discovery. Novel targets such as GlmS, GlmM, GlmU, Mur ligases, D,L-transpeptidases are assessed for their inclusiveness for the discovery of next-generation antibiotics. Additionally, cell wall inhibitors are also examined for their mechanisms of action and evolutionary constraints on MDR development. High-resolution crystallographic data provide valuable insights into molecular blueprints for structure-guided optimization of pharmacophores, enhancing binding affinity and circumventing resistance determinants. This review proposes a roadmap for future innovation, advocating for the convergence of computational biology platforms, machine learning-driven compound screening, and nanoscale delivery systems to improve therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetics. The synergy of structural insights and cutting-edge technologies offers a multidisciplinary framework for revitalizing the antibacterial arsenal and combating MDR infections efficiently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Era in Antimicrobial Strategies)
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