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Addressing a future pandemic: how can non-biological complex drugs prepare us for antimicrobial resistance threats?

Authors :
Blackman LD
Sutherland TD
De Barro PJ
Thissen H
Locock KES
Source :
Materials horizons [Mater Horiz] 2022 Aug 01; Vol. 9 (8), pp. 2076-2096. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Aug 01.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Loss of effective antibiotics through antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to human health. By 2050, the annual death rate resulting from AMR infections is predicted to have climbed from 1.27 million per annum in 2019, up to 10 million per annum. It is therefore imperative to preserve the effectiveness of both existing and future antibiotics, such that they continue to save lives. One way to conserve the use of existing antibiotics and build further contingency against resistant strains is to develop alternatives. Non-biological complex drugs (NBCDs) are an emerging class of therapeutics that show multi-mechanistic antimicrobial activity and hold great promise as next generation antimicrobial agents. We critically outline the focal advancements for each key material class, including antimicrobial polymer materials, carbon nanomaterials, and inorganic nanomaterials, and highlight the potential for the development of antimicrobial resistance against each class. Finally, we outline remaining challenges for their clinical translation, including the need for specific regulatory pathways to be established in order to allow for more efficient clinical approval and adoption of these new technologies.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2051-6355
Volume :
9
Issue :
8
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Materials horizons
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
35703580
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1039/d2mh00254j