Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) as Antibiotic Carriers: A Promising Approach

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have driven the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in recent decades. With the increasing incidence of resistant strains and the significant slowdown in new antibiotic discoveries, treating bacterial infections has become more challenging. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore alternative treatments, such as using bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) for targeted delivery. OMVs are nanoscale, spherical structures originating from Gram-negative bacteria's outer membrane. These vesicles are naturally released by almost all types of Gram-negative bacteria into their environment during growth and play crucial roles in pathogenesis by transporting specific biomolecules, such as toxins and other virulence factors, to host cells. Due to their unique ability to encapsulate and transport various bioactive molecules across the Gram negative cell membrane, nanosized OMVs hold significant potential as a novel platform for antibiotic delivery. This review discusses biogenesis, biofunctions, and antibacterial applications of OMVs.