Engineered Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Activity

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered as antimicrobials for a long time; the success of clinical studies of these NPs primarily relies on the interaction ability with the bacteria. Therefore material, shape, size, charge, and surface chemistry are important. These features give them a selective antibacterial activity that is needed for next-generation antibiotics. In this study, we used ceria NPs for antibacterial activity on <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> for selective inhibition. Even though most of the studies on antimicrobial NPs suggest reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and ion release as the primary source of antibacterial activity, the mechanism of NP’s antibacterial action is remarkably more complex than generating ROS or the release of ions. This complexity originated from the biomimetic function of these NPs. Yet, further investigation into the antimicrobial mechanisms of these biomimetic NPs is essential for future clinical translation.