141
et al. 2012). Cytotoxic effects of metal oxide nanoparticles like zinc oxide, titanium
dioxide, copper oxide, aluminum oxide, silica, and magnesium oxide have been
observed (Besinis et al. 2014; Butler et al. 2014; Frenk et al. 2013; Ge et al. 2012;
Sinha and Khare 2014; Wang et al. 2010). The bactericidal activity of nanoparticle
is possibly caused by reasons such as disruption of cell membrane architecture/
permeability, nanoparticle internalization and accumulation in the cytoplasm, interaction of nanoparticle with cellular proteins and DNA, etc. Antimicrobial properties
of organic nanoparticles such as quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary
ammonium polyethylenimines, chitosan nanoparticles, and polycationic nanoparticles have also been reported (Beyth et al. 2015).
Developments in nanotechnology have therefore facilitated the design and application of nanoparticles as a new line of defense against drug-resistant microorganisms (Khameneh et al. 2016; Singh et al. 2014). In view of this, the chapter focuses
on understanding the recent developments demonstrating the potential of nanomaterials to cope with drug resistance in bacteria. It also throws light on different
approaches like use of functionalized nanoparticles, antibiotic–nanoparticle conjugates, quantum dots, and antimicrobial peptide–nanoparticle conjugates for effective action against multidrug-resistant bacteria and for newer evolutions in
nanomedicine. An understanding of the resistant microbe–nanoparticle interactions
as well as their mechanism of action will aid design and development of novel
nanomaterial-based strategies of antimicrobial resistance containment.
6.2 Effect of Nanoparticles on Drug-Resistant Bacteria
The most commonly investigated nanoparticles for their effectiveness against resistant bacteria are metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. Nanoparticles show a wide
variation in size, ranging between 5 and 96 nm, and in shapes (spherical, triangular,
polygonal, or even aggregates). Some of the common drug-resistant bacteria against
which nanotoxic effects have been shown include S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli,
M. luteus, A. baumannii, Klebsiella sp., Bacillus spp., and E. feacalis. Antimicrobial
properties of organic nanoparticles have been studied, but there have been few
reports on their toxic effects against drug-resistant or multidrug-resistant bacteria.
This section discusses the antimicrobial effects of chemically synthesized, biologically synthesized, and functionalized nanoparticles on bacteria resistant to drugs or
antibiotics.
6 Exploring Microbial Nanotoxicity Against Drug Resistance in Bacteria
et al. 2012). Cytotoxic effects of metal oxide nanoparticles like zinc oxide, titanium
dioxide, copper oxide, aluminum oxide, silica, and magnesium oxide have been
observed (Besinis et al. 2014; Butler et al. 2014; Frenk et al. 2013; Ge et al. 2012;
Sinha and Khare 2014; Wang et al. 2010). The bactericidal activity of nanoparticle
is possibly caused by reasons such as disruption of cell membrane architecture/
permeability, nanoparticle internalization and accumulation in the cytoplasm, interaction of nanoparticle with cellular proteins and DNA, etc. Antimicrobial properties
of organic nanoparticles such as quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary
ammonium polyethylenimines, chitosan nanoparticles, and polycationic nanoparticles have also been reported (Beyth et al. 2015).
Developments in nanotechnology have therefore facilitated the design and application of nanoparticles as a new line of defense against drug-resistant microorganisms (Khameneh et al. 2016; Singh et al. 2014). In view of this, the chapter focuses
on understanding the recent developments demonstrating the potential of nanomaterials to cope with drug resistance in bacteria. It also throws light on different
approaches like use of functionalized nanoparticles, antibiotic–nanoparticle conjugates, quantum dots, and antimicrobial peptide–nanoparticle conjugates for effective action against multidrug-resistant bacteria and for newer evolutions in
nanomedicine. An understanding of the resistant microbe–nanoparticle interactions
as well as their mechanism of action will aid design and development of novel
nanomaterial-based strategies of antimicrobial resistance containment.
6.2 Effect of Nanoparticles on Drug-Resistant Bacteria
The most commonly investigated nanoparticles for their effectiveness against resistant bacteria are metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. Nanoparticles show a wide
variation in size, ranging between 5 and 96 nm, and in shapes (spherical, triangular,
polygonal, or even aggregates). Some of the common drug-resistant bacteria against
which nanotoxic effects have been shown include S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli,
M. luteus, A. baumannii, Klebsiella sp., Bacillus spp., and E. feacalis. Antimicrobial
properties of organic nanoparticles have been studied, but there have been few
reports on their toxic effects against drug-resistant or multidrug-resistant bacteria.
This section discusses the antimicrobial effects of chemically synthesized, biologically synthesized, and functionalized nanoparticles on bacteria resistant to drugs or
antibiotics.
6 Exploring Microbial Nanotoxicity Against Drug Resistance in Bacteria