Targeted Drug Delivery with Nano-Antibiotics to Mitigate Antibiotic-Related Adverse Effects and Mortality

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine over the last century, saving millions of lives and extending the average human lifespan.Twenty percent of people who receive antibiotics in the hospital experience at least one side effect.These can range from mild gastrointestinal irritation, skin, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and neurologic side effects to severe lifethreatening events such as anaphylactic shock, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, or Clostridium difficile infections.Antibiotic resistance is another global issue that is responsible for millions of deaths.Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics bioengineered to kill them.Among bacteria that have developed ways to evade antibiotics' effectiveness are Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.Nano-antibiotics are being investigated to utilize antibiotics efficiently and reduce antibiotic resistance.Nano-antibiotics are either nanoparticles that naturally have antibacterial properties or traditional antibiotics that are packaged inside specialized nanoparticles.The unique properties of nanoparticles facilitate targeted, controlled drug delivery, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of the drugs.Nanotechnology has shown promising results in the treatment and prevention of Clostridium difficile infections.This research paper reviews antibiotic resistance and the improvement of antibiotic delivery using nanotechnology to reduce antibiotic-related adverse effects and mortality.