Combining Antimicrobial Peptides with Nanotechnology: An Emerging Field in Theranostics

Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2020;21(4):413-428. doi: 10.2174/1389203721666191231111634.

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and their rapid adaptation against new antibiotics is a major challenge for scientists and medical professionals. Different approaches have been taken to combat this problem, which includes rationally designed potent antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and several nanoparticles and quantum dots. AMPs are considered as a new generation of super antibiotics that hold enormous potential to fight against bacterial resistance by the rapidly killing planktonic as well as their biofilm form while keeping low toxicity profile against eukaryotic cells. Various nanoparticles and quantum dots have proved their effectiveness against a vast array of infections and diseases. Conjugation and functionalization of nanoparticles with potentially active antimicrobial peptides have added advantages that widen their applications in the field of drug discovery as well as delivery system including imaging and diagnostics. This article reviews the current progress and implementation of different nanoparticles and quantum dots conjugated antimicrobial peptides in terms of bio-stability, drug delivery, and therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); antimcrobial peptide-nanoparticle conjugates; bio-imaging; diagnosis; drug delivery; nanoparticles (NPs)..

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Bibliometrics
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods
  • Drug Stability
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Fungi / growth & development
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Nanotechnology / history
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Plankton / drug effects
  • Plankton / growth & development
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / chemistry*
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / pharmacology
  • Precision Medicine / history
  • Precision Medicine / methods*
  • Quantum Dots / chemistry*
  • Quantum Dots / toxicity

Substances

  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins