Nanobiotechnology-based drug delivery strategy as a potential weapon against multiple drug-resistant pathogens

Abstract In parallel to recent technological advancements in the clinical world, there is a rapidly growing problem of multiple drug-resistance microbial communities. In addition to human health issues, it also causes severe damage to the agriculture, veterinary, and food sectors. Nanotechnology has gained tremendous attention among the scientific community, due to its unbelievable applications and remarkable potential. Nanobiotechnology-based antimicrobial drug delivery strategies, nano-formulated antimicrobial substances, and encapsulating nanomaterials have paved the way toward nanosolution of this big challenging problem. Silver, zinc, metal oxides (titanium oxide), and magnetic nanoparticles have been synthesized by natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic methods, and holds great promise for entrapment of antimicrobials. In vivo and in vitro experiments on different model organisms have proved the efficacy of nanomaterials and their use to restrict the aberrant microbial resistance. Significant progress has also been made to understand and improve the antimicrobial mechanism of nanostructures by drug-loaded nanoparticles and targeted delivery systems. However, designing of the nanomaterials requires in-detail knowledge of physiochemical properties and characterization of nanomaterials. This chapter presents various nanomaterials and their delivery mechanisms and it also sheds light on the future possibility of microorganisms to develop resistance, as well as risks associated with the use of nanomaterials.