Antibacterial nanomaterials: Upcoming hope to overcome antibiotic resistance crisis

When combined with nanomaterials, antibiotics show antibacterial activity against susceptible and resistant bacterial strains at significantly lower concentrations. Unfortunately, to date, no research study has examined the effect of the antibiotic mode of action and mechanism of bacterial resistance on the effectiveness of combined antibacterial treatment with nanomaterials. Therefore, in this review, we performed a thorough analysis and critical evaluation of previously published data related to the combined antibacterial effect of antibiotics with nanostructured materials with a targeted focus on relationships between antibiotic's modes of action and bacterial resistance mechanisms for relevant nanomaterials and their impact on the resulting synergistic effects. Following thorough data analysis and critical discussion, we have discovered and are the first who present that antibiotic's mode of action and bacterial resistance mechanism determine the final effectiveness of combined antibacterial treatment with nanomaterials. We therefore conclude that only certain combinations of nanomaterials with antibiotics can lead to the enhancement and restoration of the antibacterial effectiveness of antibiotics against certain resistant bacteria. Moreover, the recently occurring development of bacterial resistance towards nanomaterials is also discussed together with a possibility of how to prevent it. All discovered findings provide a new view and perspective on this issue helping to navigate further approaches to combat the antibiotic crisis.