Small Meets Smaller: Effects of Nanomaterials on Microbial Biology, Pathology, and Ecology

As functionalities and levels of complexity in nanomaterials have increased, unprecedented control over microbes has been enabled, as well. In addition to being pathogens and relevant to the human microbiome, microbes are key players for sustainable biotechnology. To overcome current constraints, mechanistic understanding of nanomaterials’ physicochemical characteristics and parameters at the nano–bio interface affecting nanomaterial–microbe crosstalk is required. In this Perspective, we describe key nanomaterial parameters and biological outputs that enable controllable microbe–nanomaterial interactions while minimizing design complexity. We discuss the role of biomolecule coronas, including the problem of nanoantibiotic resistance, and speculate on the effects of nanomaterial–microbe complex formation on the outcomes and fates of microbial pathogens. We close by summarizing our current knowledge and noting areas that require further exploration to overcome current limitations for next-generation practical applications of nanotechnology in medicine and agriculture.