New Era in Antimicrobial Strategies

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 2077

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Associate Laboratory i4HB−Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto SuperiorTécnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: cell biophysics; antimicrobial agents; cancer therapy
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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 (1 paper)

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Review

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 1 | Viewed by 1710
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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