Nanoantibiotics to fight multidrug resistant infections by Gram-positive bacteria: hope or reality?

Abstract

The spread of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-positive pathogens represents a threat to human health. To counteract the current lack of novel antibiotics, alternative antibacterial treatments have been increasingly investigated. This review covers the last decade's developments in using nanoparticles as carriers for the two classes of frontline antibiotics active on multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, i.e., glycopeptide antibiotics and daptomycin. Most of the reviewed papers deal with vancomycin nanoformulations, being teicoplanin- and daptomycin-carrying nanosystems much less investigated. Special attention is addressed to nanoantibiotics used for contrasting biofilm-associated infections. The status of the art related to nanoantibiotic toxicity is critically reviewed.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Biofilms; Daptomycin; Drug delivery; Glycopeptide antibiotics; Nanoantibiotics; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Teicoplanin; Vancomycin.