Natural polyphenol-based metal nanomaterials for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
Natural polyphenol-based metal nanomaterials for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
Bacterial infections represent a major global health challenge, particularly with the emergence of drug-resistant strains that cause a wide range of clinical conditions, from skin infections to internal diseases such as peritonitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. Metal nanomaterials have recently gained attention as promising antibacterial agents owing to their unique physicochemical properties, which endow them with potent antibacterial activity and broad-spectrum efficacy against drug-resistant bacteria.
Unlike conventional antibiotics, metal nanomaterials rarely induce bacterial resistance due to their diverse antibacterial mechanisms, which include direct disruption of bacterial cell structures and the generation of oxidative stress. However, traditional chemical synthesis of metal nanomaterials often involves toxic organic solvents, raising safety and environmental concerns. In contrast, biosynthetic approaches, particularly those employing plant extracts as reducing agents or stabilizing ligands, offer environmentally friendly and biocompatible alternatives for nanoparticle fabrication.
In this thesis of Yaran Wang, two novel antibacterial agents, ellagic acid–modified gold nanoparticles (EA-AuNPs) and a bimetal–phenolic framework (Que-Fe-CeMPF), were developed as potential alternatives to antibiotics for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections both in vitro and in vivo, using a simple green synthesis method. Both metal nanomaterials exhibited highly effective antibacterial activity without inducing bacterial resistance, which is attributed to their multimodal antibacterial mechanisms. In mouse models with bacterial infections, both EA-AuNPs and Que-Fe-CeMPF demonstrated superior therapeutic efficacy compared with traditional antibiotics. For future clinical translation, comprehensive evaluations of therapeutic efficacy and long-term biosafety in vivo are essential, ideally employing animal models with immune systems that more closely resemble those of humans.