This Research Topic is part of the series on "Antimicrobial Nanostructured Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites". See second Volume
here.
Infectious diseases are disorders caused by microbes and they represent a major risk to human health. The considerable concern regarding microbial drug resistance, bacterial adhesion and proliferation has generated intense research in this field. Although urgently needed, a solution to this problem, i.e. microbial and especially bacterial colonization, has not yet been found. In the last decades, nanomaterials have attracted much attention because of their unique physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, due to their high surface area and size at the nanoscale. Owing to these extraordinary characteristics, nanomaterials are appropriate candidates for various applications in different fields such as medicine, pharmacology, food industry, etc. New strategies based on the use of nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanogels, nanofibers, nanocomposites or nanocoatings for controlling microbial activity are very promising.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive collection of the most recent advances in research related to the antimicrobial nanomaterials and their applications in different fields. Specifically, it will include advances in the production, characterization, and applications of nanostructured polymeric materials and nanocomposites with antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, future challenges in nanomaterials applications for effective antimicrobial management will be addressed.
This Research Topic on antimicrobial nanostructured polymeric materials and nanocomposites will bring together experts from the fields of nanotechnology, materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, to review the current state of the art and to express outstanding research needs related to nanomaterials with antimicrobial activity. Types of manuscripts to be featured include Review, Original Research, and Perspective articles. Themes to be investigated may include (but are not limited to):
• Nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanogels, nanofibers, nanocomposites or nanocoatings with antimicrobial activity
• Nanostructured polymeric materials with antimicrobial activity
• Mechanisms of action of antimicrobial nanomaterials
• Toxicity and adverse effects of nanomaterials
• Role of antimicrobial nanomaterials in medicine and pharmacy
• Role of antimicrobial nanomaterials in food industry
• Future perspectives for antimicrobial nanomaterials