Pharmaceutical Formulations of Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Antimicrobial Applications: A Review

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is on the rise globally, so creating new tools to combat resistant pathogens is essential. A novel approach that enhances the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial compounds by avoiding resistance mechanisms and reducing systemic side effects is the nanotechnologically based drug delivery system, or Nano-DDS. The preparation and application of pharmaceutical formulations containing nanomaterials, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, dendrimers, and carbon-based nanomaterials in antimicrobial therapy, are compiled in this review. Such systems address deadly multidrug-resistant organisms like MRSA and MDR-TB, as well as fungal and viral infections, by overcoming the poor solubility of drugs, enabling site-specific delivery, and promoting drug penetration inside microbial biofilms. Clinical and preclinical studies illustrating the potential of recent developments, such as theragnostic systems and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, are discussed. Along with examining issues like toxicity, scalability, and regulatory barriers, the review offers solutions for safe clinical translation. Prospects for the future emphasize how nanotechnology can be integrated with artificial intelligence and CRISPR for personalized medicine. This review emphasizes how important nanotechnology is in combating AMR and calls for interdisciplinary cooperation to hasten its clinical adoption and fight the escalating global health emergency.