Transition Metal Nanoparticles As Promising Antimicrobial Agents

The bacterial spread can pose a significant risk in the transmission of infectious diseases. Nanomaterials, including synthetic antibacterial nanoparticles, have emerged as a promising solution to combat bacterial infections due to their unique physicochemical properties. Metal nanoparticles have been shown to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including both gram-positive and gram-negative strains. One of the main advantages of using metal nanoparticles as antibacterial agents is their ability to penetrate the bacterial cell wall and disrupt cellular processes. This disruption can lead to the inhibition of bacterial growth and ultimately, bacterial death. Furthermore, metal nanoparticles can be engineered with specific surface modifications that enhance their antibacterial activity and improve their biocompatibility. These modifications can include the attachment of targeting ligands, peptides, or antibodies to the nanoparticle surface, which can increase their specificity toward bacterial cells and reduce their toxicity toward mammalian cells. Overall, the use of metal nanoparticles as antibacterial agents holds great promise for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat bacterial infections, both in vitro and in vivo. In this paper, we highlight the development of metal NPs, particularly those based on Mn, Fe, Co, Zn and Cu for their antimicrobial properties and related mechanisms.