Abstract

Despite developing a broad spectrum of antibiotics, pathogenic drug-resistant bacteria remain the primary health concern. To combat resistance, the researchers are now focusing their efforts on treatments based on nanotechnology. The green synthesis approach for synthesizing nanoparticles (NPs) has emerged as an eco-friendly solution. Plant secondary metabolites can reduce metallic ions and generate stabilized eco-friendly metallic nanoparticles. The primary focus of this review is the antibacterial characteristics of metallic NPs synthesized utilizing plants. Databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to conduct this review. First, a brief overview and the importance of green synthesis are highlighted. Secondly, the antibacterial potential and associated mechanisms of metallic NPs are illustrated. The activity of metallic NPs may involve a dual mechanism of action. This covers the generation of reactive oxygen species, the release of metal ions, and the action of surface-functionalized plant flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and others. Metallic NPs exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against diverse Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Some of the limitations of the studies include a lack of toxicity profiling, stability assessment, and qualitative and in vitro analysis. A brief overview of NPs toxicity is also presented. Therapies based on nanotechnology must be used in the future to manage microbial illnesses. However, toxicity, stability, enhanced bioavailability, and synergistic interactions between NPs and antibiotics need further validation.

Key words: Nanotechnology, drug resistance, antibacterial potential, metallic nanoparticles, toxicity.