Engineered nanomaterials for antimicrobial applications: A review

Abstract Human mortality rates due to infectious diseases from drug-resistant bacterial strains is becoming an epidemic in our society. Currently, the development of new, expensive and more effective treatment processes and medications have stemmed from the impotence of antibiotics due to misuse and/or improper administration. This has consequently created a range of short- and long-term side effects in patients. On the other hand, nanoparticles have been shown to exhibit antimicrobial potency towards various types of pathogens due to their size and cell damaging abilities through various mechanisms. Unlike antibiotics, which are administered to treat diseases and infection in patients, nanomaterials provides an interesting opportunity to limit microbial growth prior to human infection. This has led to the development of engineered antimicrobial materials, targeting different applications with nanoparticles as the active antimicrobial agents. Hence, we critically reviewed the recent progress achieved in the use of engineered nanomaterials for antimicrobial applications and the mechanism that make them highly effective. Applications in water treatment, healthcare and facility substrates, alternative food packaging, and antifouling coatings have been given special attention due to their relevance as media through which diseases are easily spread. Likewise, drawbacks and knowledge gaps in nanomaterial solutions for antimicrobial materials are discussed.