Nanotechnology for Targeted Detection and Removal of Bacteria: Opportunities and Challenges

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2021 Nov;8(21):e2100556. doi: 10.1002/advs.202100556. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

Abstract

The emergence of nanotechnology has created unprecedented hopes for addressing several unmet industrial and clinical issues, including the growing threat so-termed "antibiotic resistance" in medicine. Over the last decade, nanotechnologies have demonstrated promising applications in the identification, discrimination, and removal of a wide range of pathogens. Here, recent insights into the field of bacterial nanotechnology are examined that can substantially improve the fundamental understanding of nanoparticle and bacteria interactions. A wide range of developed nanotechnology-based approaches for bacterial detection and removal together with biofilm eradication are summarized. The challenging effects of nanotechnologies on beneficial bacteria in the human body and environment and the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to nanotherapeutics are also reviewed.

Keywords: bacteria; biofilms; nanotechnology; resistance.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacteria / immunology
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies