Nanotechnology Applications for Biofilm Control and Infection Management

Bacterial biofilms are structured communities of microbes encased within a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix that confers resistance to antibiotics and host defences. Nanotechnology offers a suite of approaches to prevent biofilm formation, disrupt mature communities and enhance the efficacy of antimicrobials. Strategies include stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that release drugs in acidic or oxidative microenvironments, functionalised metal and metal-oxide nanostructures that generate reactive species or heat upon external activation, and polymeric or hybrid frameworks that combine targeted delivery with physical penetration of the EPS barrier. These platforms have been applied to a wide range of clinical challenges, from device-associated infections and chronic wounds to ocular and dental biofilms. By integrating chemical, physical and biological mechanisms at the nanoscale, such innovations promise to overcome multidrug resistance, reduce systemic toxicity and promote local healing in diverse healthcare settings globally.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have employed plasmonic gold nanoparticles to generate laser-induced vapour nanobubbles within biofilms. Localised bubble formation mechanically disrupts the EPS matrix and markedly enhances antibiotic diffusion, yielding orders-of-magnitude improvements in bacterial killing across Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. In parallel, research has demonstrated that low-intensity shock waves can transiently compromise biofilm integrity on medical devices and in host tissues, rendering stubborn infections susceptible to standard antibiotic regimens. Taken together, these work underscore the power of combining nanoscale or acoustically driven physical disruption with existing drug therapies to eradicate chronic biofilm infections.

Nanotechnology Applications for Biofilm Control and Infection Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications for biofilm control and infection management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biofilm: A structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-secreted polymeric matrix attached to a surface.

Nanoparticle: A particle with at least one dimension in the range 1–100 nm, used here as a carrier or agent for antimicrobial action.

Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS): The hydrated matrix of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids that embeds biofilm cells and impedes drug penetration.

Vapour Nanobubble (VNB): A transient vapour cavity formed around plasmonic nanoparticles upon laser irradiation, capable of mechanically disrupting nearby structures.

Metal-Phenolic Network: A coordination assembly of metal ions and polyphenolic ligands forming a nanoscale matrix for drug loading and stimuli-responsive release.

Metal–Organic Framework (MOF): A crystalline porous material composed of metal nodes and organic linkers, here used to catalyse reactive oxygen species generation.

References

1. Dynamic covalent nano-networks comprising antibiotics and polyphenols orchestrate bacterial drug resistance reversal and inflammation alleviation. Bioactive Materials (2023).
2. An Antibiotic Nanobomb Constructed from pH‐Responsive Chemical Bonds in Metal‐Phenolic Network Nanoparticles for Biofilm Eradication and Corneal Ulcer Healing. Advanced Science (2024).
3. Laser-induced vapour nanobubbles improve drug diffusion and efficiency in bacterial biofilms. Nature Communications (2018).
4. Successful treatment of biofilm infections using shock waves combined with antibiotic therapy. Scientific Reports (2015).
5. A Heterocatalytic Metal–Organic Framework to Stimulate Dispersal and Macrophage Combat with Infectious Biofilms. ACS Nano (2023).