The Pharmaceutical Role of Silver Nanoparticles in Treating Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Biofilms

Background: According to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance has recently become worrisome and constitutes an international public health crisis. The advent of multidrug-resistant bacteria has been implicated in the rise in morbidity and death caused by microbial diseases. However, the lack of new and effective antibiotics has been associated with the emergence of drug resistance. This has resulted in worldwide endeavors to advance innovative drugs with higher efficiency and more sophisticated drug delivery technologies. In addition, the utilization of nanoparticles as innovative biological substances is considered a worldwide issue of interest.Nanoparticles have the potential to become a vital and viable treatment alternative for treating drug-resistant illnesses. Nanoparticles contain metallic substances and their oxides, which have the highest possibility among all nanoparticles and have piqued the curiosity of numerous experts. Furthermore, using silver nanoparticles in photothermal treatment has attracted much interest.Purpose: This review includes knowledge about the problems of drug resistance and the mechanism of action of silver nanoparticles.Results: This review comprehensively assesses the current discoveries for using silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial medicines in infections caused by resistant microorganisms. Also being explored as nanomaterials that can react with light (photothermal treatment) to destroy bacteria and promote improved medication administration and release. Furthermore, it focuses on the synergy between nanoparticles with antimicrobial action and other nanoparticles, microbial adaptation mechanisms to nanoparticles, and existing obstacles and future possibilities that were thoroughly examined.