Nanotechnology Based Strategies for Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

This book provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in nanotechnology as an alternative strategy for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Examining nanotechnology-based methods such as nanoencapsulation, drug delivery, and conjugation, the text highlights their successful application in treating microbial infections with reduced resistance and off-target toxicity. The introductory section outlines AMR and explores diverse mechanisms of microbial resistance, emphasizing the potential of nanotechnology to surmount these challenges. Subsequent chapters investigate the role of specific nanomaterials—metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, functionalized quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, bimetallic nanoparticles, nanocomposites, carbon nanomaterials, and polymer-based nanomaterials—in overcoming antimicrobial resistance. Several chapters focus on the efficacy of nanoemulsions as an antimicrobial delivery method, underscoring their inherent antimicrobial properties, capacity to enhance drug solubility, stability, bioavailability, and targeting potential at the organ and cellular levels. The concluding section provides a detailed review of liposomes, dendrimers-based nanoparticles, and micelles as drug delivery vehicles in the context of combating pathogens resistant to antimicrobials.

Dr. Mohmmad Younus Wani is an associate professor of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry in the College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He received his Ph.D. in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, and Postdoctoral training from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and Texas Therapeutics Institute, UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA on the development of new treatment strategies and non-traditional approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With extensive experience in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, he has authored/co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed research articles, 05 books and several US patents, and is the recipient of many prestigious honors, awards, and grants. He is a professional member of many scientific societies and is on the editorial board of many reputed scientific journals. Dr. Wani is working at the interface of chemistry and biology to develop novel small molecule inhibitors, new treatment strategies and novel approaches that could circumvent AMR, which is within the ambit of WHO’s global action plan on antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Irshad Ahmad Wani is an assistant professor of chemistry in the postgraduate department of chemistry at the Govt. Postgraduate Degree College Anantnag, University of Kashmir, India. He formerly worked as a Lecturer in Chemistry at the J&K School Education Department from 2010 to 2017. Dr. Wani has been teaching Chemistry at the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels in several colleges of the J&K Higher Education Department since 2017. Dr. Irshad A. Wani earned his master's degree in chemistry in 2007 and his Ph.D. in Nanochemistry in 2012 from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, India. He has received various prestigious awards notably ICTSGS Services Award (2021) conferred by SPAST foundation & B N Kailoo Memorial ISCAS Medal (2009) conferred by ISCAS, India etc. He has a good track record of publications & has published research papers in various esteemed international journals. He has also authored several book chapters and is also a co-editor of some edited books. Dr. Wani is also a life member of various prestigious scientific societies like Materials Research Society of India, India Association of Solid-State Chemists & Allied Scientists, Society for Materials Chemistry etc. His current research interests include Green Synthesis of Inorganic nanoparticles, Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Nanoparticles, Conjugation of nanoparticles with various significant molecules for biomedical, therapeutic & sensing applications.

Dr. Akhilesh Rai is assistant investigator (equivalent to assistant professor) at University of Coimbra, Portugal. He has done his postdoctoral work at Nottingham Trent University UK, Universite Catholique de Louvain Belgium and Center of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra on various European projects. His research interests include the nanotechnology-based approaches for the regenerative medicine applications with specialization in nanomaterials, antimicrobial peptides, antimicrobial agents, nanomaterial-cell interactions, skin regeneration and drug delivery. He has been conferred with various prestigious awards notably Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation Investigator award, BluePharma-University of Coimbra award and CSIR-India research fellowship. He is an active reviewer and is on the editorial board of various international journals. He has published more than 40 research papers in peer-reviewed international journals, 4 book chapters, 3 patents with more than 7000 citations. He was a cofounder of spinoff company (CureMat Technology), dedicated to developing an innovative and skin-regenerative wound dressing.