Functional nanomaterials in combating antimicrobial resistance: Innovations in wound dressings and biomedical implants

The rapid escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has rendered conventional antibiotics increasingly ineffective, particularly in chronic wound management and implant-associated infections where biofilm formation impedes drug penetration and fosters multidrug-resistant pathogens. Functional nanomaterials—encompassing metallic and metal-oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, polymeric and hybrid nanocomposites, and stimuli-responsive systems—offer transformative solutions by enabling localized, sustained, and multimodal antimicrobial action. These nanoscale platforms disrupt bacterial membranes, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), release therapeutic ions or payloads in a controlled manner, and integrate regenerative cues to accelerate tissue repair. In wound dressings, nanomaterial integration enhances antimicrobial efficacy, angiogenesis, and moisture balance, while advanced implant coatings deliver biofilm-resistant, osteoinductive, and infection-responsive surfaces without systemic toxicity. This review synthesizes advances from 2010 to 2025, emphasizing biofilm-disruption mechanisms, smart drug-release strategies, and the clinical translation of nanomaterial-enabled therapies. It critically evaluates biosafety, regulatory, and scalability challenges, while outlining future directions including AI-guided material design, personalized nanomedicine, and sustainable synthesis approaches. By uniting antimicrobial potency with regenerative functionality, functional nanomaterials represent a paradigm shift in combating AMR at the interface of infection control and tissue engineering.