Overconsumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics is linked to emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR), which have increased in recent decades and will continue to be a global health threat. Thus, efforts are needed to revitalize the antibiotic pipeline and develop novel antibiotics effective against antibiotic-resistance pathogens. In this regard, biosynthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered an effective and eco-friendly approach against pathogens that have acquired resistance to antibiotics. Also, there is a rational expectation that biosynthesized NPs would have higher antimicrobial activity than the biological sources that fabricate these NPs.
There is a body of research suggesting that the combination of biosynthesized NPs and commercial antibiotics may lead to a significant increase in the antimicrobial activity against a broad range of infectious bacteria and fungi, particularly microorganisms that have developed AMR and MDR. This synergy may lead to a reduction in the development of bacterial/fungal resistance, a reduction in the duration of treatment, and eliminating the need for repeated antibiotic doses. However, there is evidence that this is not the only solution to overcome the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Recently, there have also been a few studies reporting the efficacy of NPs in combination with biological extracts from which these NPs were derived. Synergy of biosynthesized NPs with biological extracts might become a promising approach in near future, as both green NPs and biological extracts are biocompatible and cost-effective resources that can utilized for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infectious diseases.
However, the use of biological NPs is not always beneficial. Certain studies have also reported an antagonistic effect of the association between NPs and synthetic antibiotics. It is thought that perhaps biological NPs interfere with antibiotic components and limit their availability.
In this Research Topic, we encourage the submission of studies that investigate synergism or antagonism between biosynthetic nanoparticles (NPs) and antibiotics, as well as between biosynthetic nanoparticles and biological extracts from which they have been derived. We also encourage authors to address the challenges associated with the antimicrobial effects of biological nanoparticles. Original research articles, reviews, and brief reports are all welcome contributions.
Keywords:
AMR, MDR, nanoparticles, biosynthesized, synergism, antagonism
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Overconsumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics is linked to emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR), which have increased in recent decades and will continue to be a global health threat. Thus, efforts are needed to revitalize the antibiotic pipeline and develop novel antibiotics effective against antibiotic-resistance pathogens. In this regard, biosynthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered an effective and eco-friendly approach against pathogens that have acquired resistance to antibiotics. Also, there is a rational expectation that biosynthesized NPs would have higher antimicrobial activity than the biological sources that fabricate these NPs.
There is a body of research suggesting that the combination of biosynthesized NPs and commercial antibiotics may lead to a significant increase in the antimicrobial activity against a broad range of infectious bacteria and fungi, particularly microorganisms that have developed AMR and MDR. This synergy may lead to a reduction in the development of bacterial/fungal resistance, a reduction in the duration of treatment, and eliminating the need for repeated antibiotic doses. However, there is evidence that this is not the only solution to overcome the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Recently, there have also been a few studies reporting the efficacy of NPs in combination with biological extracts from which these NPs were derived. Synergy of biosynthesized NPs with biological extracts might become a promising approach in near future, as both green NPs and biological extracts are biocompatible and cost-effective resources that can utilized for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infectious diseases.
However, the use of biological NPs is not always beneficial. Certain studies have also reported an antagonistic effect of the association between NPs and synthetic antibiotics. It is thought that perhaps biological NPs interfere with antibiotic components and limit their availability.
In this Research Topic, we encourage the submission of studies that investigate synergism or antagonism between biosynthetic nanoparticles (NPs) and antibiotics, as well as between biosynthetic nanoparticles and biological extracts from which they have been derived. We also encourage authors to address the challenges associated with the antimicrobial effects of biological nanoparticles. Original research articles, reviews, and brief reports are all welcome contributions.
Keywords:
AMR, MDR, nanoparticles, biosynthesized, synergism, antagonism
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.