Transition Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Potential Antimicrobial Agents

Bacterial transmission is considered one of the potential risks for communicable diseases. Nanotechnology could be beneficial in managing bacterial issues particularly. Based on their distinct physiochemical characteristics, the extraordinary antimicrobial effects of metal nanoparticles (NPs) offer such structures suitable for use both in vitro and in vivo as self-modified therapeutic agents. Due to their wide range of antimicrobial efficacy, diverse antimicrobial routes, and good biocompatibility, NPs have potential therapeutic aplication prospects. NPS restricts the establishment of bacterial resistance and broadens the scope of antimicrobial activity without binding with the bacterial cell to a particular receptor. As a result, several efficacy experiments on metal-based NPS published so far have promising findings on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This review is aimed to explore the most relevant types of metal NPs employed as antimicrobial agents, particularly those based on the Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ag, and Zn-based NPs, and to highlight their antimicrobial mechanisms.