Title:Combining Antimicrobial Peptides with Nanotechnology: An Emerging Field in Theranostics
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Author(s): Sk Abdul Mohid and Anirban Bhunia*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054,India
Keywords:
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), nanoparticles (NPs), antimcrobial peptide-nanoparticle conjugates, diagnosis, drug
delivery, bio-imaging.
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.