microbes that have gained immunity toward them. Moreover, nanoparticles

labeled with antibiotics have appeared to expand the co-localization of antibiotics

at the site of the bacterium-antibiotic interaction and to encourage binding of

antibiotics to bacteria. This review article will tend to highlight the physicochem-

ical properties, mode of action, and bactericidal activity of nanoparticles in

combating antibacterial resistance.

Keywords

Nanoparticles · Antibacterial · Multidrug resistance · Mechanisms ·

Physicochemical properties

11.1

Introduction

Recent era has witnessed a significant enhancement in the field of drug discovery

and modern medicine, which has ultimately uplifted the health sector. Despite the

tremendous strides being made, the researchers across the globe are facing momen-

tous challenges when it comes to overcoming bacterial resistance (Allahverdiyev

et al. 2011; Beyth et al. 2015; Wang et al. 2017). On a worldwide level, bacterial

infections have been accounted for causing escalated mortality and morbidity and

have proven to be a grave issue (Allahverdiyev et al. 2011; Beyth et al. 2015).

Multidrug resistance (MDR) and biofilm-associated infections are some of the other

factors, which have hampered the utility of present-day treatment therapies (Beyth

et al. 2015).

Lately, broad-spectrum antibiotics were being employed as the first line of

defense on a widespread scale for combating bacterial pathogen-based ailments.

However, it became eminent that prolonged use of these antibiotics has proven to be

ineffective (Wang et al. 2017). This can be ascribed to the fact that the genomic

structure of these bacterial strains comprises of a super resistance gene called

NDM-1 (Hsueh 2010) which facilitates them to develop an innate immunity toward

active pharmaceutical formulations (Wang et al. 2017).

Antibiotics work via predominantly controlling three major mechanisms, viz.,

cessation of cell wall synthesis and translation and transcription (DNA replication)

mechanisms (Wang et al. 2017). However, the bacteria are capable of developing

resistance against any individual previously mentioned mechanisms. Apart from

these, modification or degradation of antibiotic via cleaving enzymes (viz.,

β-lactamases and aminoglycosides) (Poole 2002) altered cellular compartmental

structure (Jayaraman 2009), and evoked efflux pumps (Knetsch and Koole 2011)

are some of the other prevalent factors which have resulted in the significant

declination of the potency of the marketed antibiotics (Wang et al. 2017). This

alarming situation, hence, calls for the development of novel alternative remedial

therapies that can offer better patient compliance, reduced dosing, and effective

killing of bacterial pathogens.

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A. Parmar and S. Sharma