Overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of multidrug-resistant strains. Antibiotic resistance is a major drawback in the biomedical field since medical implants are prone to infection by biofilms of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. With increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, the search for alternative method is utmost importance. In this regard, magnetic nanoparticles are commonly used as a substitute for antibiotics that can circumvent the problem of biofilms growth on the surface of biomedical implants. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have unique magnetic properties that can be exploited in various ways in the biomedical applications. IONPs are engineered employing different methods to induce surface functionalization that include the use of polyethyleneimine and oleic acid. IONPs have a mechanical effect on biofilms in presence of an external magnet. In this review, a detailed description of surface-engineered magnetic nanoparticles as ideal antibacterial agents is provided, accompanied by various methods of literature review.
Keywords: antibacterial activity; antibiofilm application; iron oxide nanoparticles; magnetic nanoparticles; surface functionalization.
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