Metal-based nanoparticles in the treatment of infectious diseases

Abstract: Infectious diseases caused by different pathogens are responsible for high mortality across the globe. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) of microorganisms towards different antibiotics has posed a great challenge in treating infectious diseases efficiently. The metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) have demonstrated great promise in treating infectious diseases because of their inherent antimicrobial potential. Besides, these NPs show site-specific delivery of antibiotic therapeutics, thereby minimizing dose, dose frequency, and side effects. Further, the synergistic effect of MNPs with an antibiotic can reduce the MDR. However, the fabrication of MNPs using an apt fabrication technique with proper control of charge, size, and morphology is highly required to achieve better therapeutic performance. This review focuses on MNPs as a potential avenue to treat infectious diseases. The role of MNPs in combating MDR, different sorts of MNPs, and their fabrication techniques are discussed. Furthermore, assorted types of MNPs employed in antibiotic delivery to treat infectious diseases are discussed with manifold case studies. In short, MNPs alone or as a carrier of antibiotics seems to be an effective strategy in wiping out infectious diseases.