Microbial Resistance: A Comprehensive Review on the Emerging Role of Bionanomaterials

Abstract

Microbial resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents has emerged as one of the most critical global health challenges of the 21st century. The rapid evolution of resistant bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic strains has significantly reduced the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs worldwide. Factors such as the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, poor infection control practices, and limited development of new antimicrobial agents have accelerated this crisis. In this context, bionanomaterials have gained considerable attention as innovative and promising alternatives to traditional antimicrobial therapies. Bionanomaterials, derived from biological sources or synthesized using green chemistry approaches, exhibit unique physicochemical properties such as nanoscale size, large surface area, enhanced bioavailability, and multifunctional mechanisms of action.

These materials can effectively combat microbial resistance through mechanisms including membrane disruption, reactive oxygen species generation, inhibition of biofilm formation, and targeted drug delivery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of microbial resistance, its underlying mechanisms, and the limitations of current antimicrobial strategies. Furthermore, it critically discusses the role of bionanomaterials—including metallic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based nanocarriers, and phytochemical-loaded nanostructures—in overcoming antimicrobial resistance. Recent advances, challenges, safety concerns, and future perspectives of bionanomaterial-based antimicrobial strategies are also highlighted. The review emphasizes the potential of bionanomaterials as next-generation therapeutics to address the growing threat of microbial resistance.