Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections

The escalating threat of antibiotic resistance demands innovative strategies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms, particularly in hospital settings where such infections represent a major global health challenge. Since the rapid growth of nanotechnology interdisciplinary research and fu...

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Main Authors: Eudald Casals, Muriel F. Gusta, Neus Bastus, Jordi Rello, Victor Puntes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/952
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author Eudald Casals
Muriel F. Gusta
Neus Bastus
Jordi Rello
Victor Puntes
author_facet Eudald Casals
Muriel F. Gusta
Neus Bastus
Jordi Rello
Victor Puntes
author_sort Eudald Casals
collection DOAJ
description The escalating threat of antibiotic resistance demands innovative strategies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms, particularly in hospital settings where such infections represent a major global health challenge. Since the rapid growth of nanotechnology interdisciplinary research and funding programs in the 2000s, silver ions have re-emerged as potent antimicrobial agents, offering a promising complement to conventional therapies. This therapeutic potential is nowadays explored through the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as sources for silver ions release. Recent studies have shown that controlled silver ion release enhances the efficacy of common antibiotics. This can be attributed to the energetically demanding nature of the bacterial response to silver, which weakens bacterial metabolism and, in turn, overwhelms bacterial defenses and increases antibiotic effectiveness. Herein, historical insights into the use of colloidal silver and AgNPs are combined with a review of recent research on the exploitation of the synergistic effect between AgNPs and antibiotics as a promising strategy against MDR pathogens.
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-034b89b59ee4491098649520f0cf34832025-08-20T02:18:10ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-04-0113495210.3390/microorganisms13040952Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant InfectionsEudald Casals0Muriel F. Gusta1Neus Bastus2Jordi Rello3Victor Puntes4Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, SpainCatalan Institute of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (ICN2), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, SpainCatalan Institute of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (ICN2), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, SpainCIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, SpainVall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, SpainThe escalating threat of antibiotic resistance demands innovative strategies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms, particularly in hospital settings where such infections represent a major global health challenge. Since the rapid growth of nanotechnology interdisciplinary research and funding programs in the 2000s, silver ions have re-emerged as potent antimicrobial agents, offering a promising complement to conventional therapies. This therapeutic potential is nowadays explored through the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as sources for silver ions release. Recent studies have shown that controlled silver ion release enhances the efficacy of common antibiotics. This can be attributed to the energetically demanding nature of the bacterial response to silver, which weakens bacterial metabolism and, in turn, overwhelms bacterial defenses and increases antibiotic effectiveness. Herein, historical insights into the use of colloidal silver and AgNPs are combined with a review of recent research on the exploitation of the synergistic effect between AgNPs and antibiotics as a promising strategy against MDR pathogens.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/952antibiotic resistancesilver nanoparticlesmultidrug-resistant pathogensantimicrobial synergycontrolled ion release
spellingShingle Eudald Casals
Muriel F. Gusta
Neus Bastus
Jordi Rello
Victor Puntes
Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections
Microorganisms
antibiotic resistance
silver nanoparticles
multidrug-resistant pathogens
antimicrobial synergy
controlled ion release
title Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections
title_full Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections
title_fullStr Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections
title_full_unstemmed Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections
title_short Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics: A Promising Synergistic Approach to Multidrug-Resistant Infections
title_sort silver nanoparticles and antibiotics a promising synergistic approach to multidrug resistant infections
topic antibiotic resistance
silver nanoparticles
multidrug-resistant pathogens
antimicrobial synergy
controlled ion release
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/952
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AT neusbastus silvernanoparticlesandantibioticsapromisingsynergisticapproachtomultidrugresistantinfections
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