Enhanced Bactericidal Effects and Drug Delivery with Gentamicin-Conjugated Nanoparticles

Amid the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in human populations, novel solutions are necessary. Nanoparticles, renowned for their adaptability, offer a diverse range of research avenues, notably as antibacterial agents. Coupling antibiotics with nanoparticles stands out as a potential strategy, effectively intriguing drug delivery challenges and circumventing antibiotic resistance. This review focuses on studies of nanoparticles in conjugation with the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin and their effectiveness as novel nanoparticle conjugates, their applications in drug delivery and enhanced bactericidal effects. In most cases, the nanoparticle conjugates were found to efficiently kill different bacterial strains, which was mainly dependent on the size, stability and concentration of the nanoparticles. Despite the several limitations such as nanotoxicity, accumulation of intravenously injected nanomaterials in tissues and organs, the urge and potential for the advancement of nanoparticle-drug conjugates still demands more scientific advancements.