title: Alternative antimicrobial approach: nano-antimicrobial materials.
abstract: Despite numerous existing potent antibiotics and other antimicrobial means, bacterial infections are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the need to develop additional bactericidal means has significantly increased due to the growing concern regarding multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and biofilm associated infections. Consequently, attention has been especially devoted to new and emerging nanoparticle-based materials in the field of antimicrobial chemotherapy. The present review discusses the activities of nanoparticles as an antimicrobial means, their mode of action, nanoparticle effect on drug-resistant bacteria, and the risks attendant on their use as antibacterial agents. Factors contributing to nanoparticle performance in the clinical setting, their unique properties, and mechanism of action as antibacterial agents are discussed in detail.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Nurit
authors: N
authors: Beyth
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Yael
authors: Y
authors: Houri-Haddad
authors: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12065, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Avi
authors: A
authors: Domb
authors: Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), Balanagar, Hyderabad 500 037, India.
authors: Wahid
authors: W
authors: Khan
authors: Institute of Dental Sciences, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel ; IYAR, The Israeli Institute for Advanced Research, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ronen
authors: R
authors: Hazan