Original Articles Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): Bioscience Insights Published 2026-10-23

METAL-BASED NANOPARTICLES FOR COMBATING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL TRANSLATION

Authors

  • Muhammad Abbas Sadiq Relizon Pharmaceuticals Lahore Pakistan. Pakistan Author
  • Zimal Haider International School Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan Author
  • Hamza Javed BS Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan. Pakistan Author
  • Sundas Zahoor College of Medical Laboratory Technology, National Institute of Health Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan Author
  • Hufsa Raees Masters in Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Pakistan Author
  • Muhammad Azam MBBS, Pak International Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan. Pakistan Author
  • Fariah Fatima Allama Iqbal Open University, Jhelum, Pakistan. Pakistan Author
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Abstract

Background: The escalation of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens severely compromises conventional antibiotic therapies. Metal-based nanoparticles offer highly promising, multi-targeted antimicrobial properties, yet fragmented data regarding specific resistance-overcoming mechanisms and translational safety profiles necessitate rigorous systematic synthesis.

Objective: To synthesize evidence elucidating how silver, zinc, and copper nanoparticles overcome bacterial resistance mechanisms and evaluate overarching progress toward clinical application.

Methods: Conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched from January 2020 through April 2026. Following deduplication and two-stage screening (Title/Abstract and Full-Text), methodological quality across preclinical models was independently appraised using ToxRTool and ARRIVE guidelines.

Results: From 850 identified records, exactly 7 primary empirical studies met all pre-specified PICO criteria. Formulations incorporating silver, zinc, and copper (evaluated by authors including Gajic, Kumar, and Xiao) consistently bypassed conventional resistance pathways through simultaneous membrane pitting, intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, and genomic DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, these nanoparticles successfully penetrated recalcitrant biofilms, depolymerizing the extracellular matrix at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Biogenic synthesis and localized delivery platforms demonstrated high mammalian cytocompatibility and negligible hemolytic activity; however, unencapsulated systemic exposure presented potential hepatic and renal bioaccumulation risks.

Conclusion: Metal-based nanoparticles effectively eradicate multidrug-resistant pathogens and biofilms via simultaneous biophysical and biochemical attacks. Bridging the clinical translational gap requires developing target-specific nanocarrier delivery platforms and implementing standardized, longitudinal in vivo toxicological profiling.

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial resistance, metal nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, reactive oxygen species, biofilms, nanomedicine.

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