Antibacterial potential of nanobioceramics used as drug carriers

Abstract

Infectious diseases continue to be one of the major challenges faced by the medical community despite many advancements in the field of health care and research. Alarmingly infections, which were the leading cause of death worldwide a hundred years ago, have made a dramatic resurgence. This comeback is mainly attributed to the resistance shown by the bacteria to major antimicrobial drugs that are currently used. Attempts have been made to overcome this crisis by discovering newer antibiotics and developing efficient modes of drug delivery. In this regard, the role of nanotechnology in infection control has evinced tremendous interest especially with the development of nanocarriers for antibiotics delivery and antibacterial nanoparticles. Bioceramics, a class of inorganic biomaterials, are widely used as bone substitutes for bone reconstruction. Using bioceramics as local drug delivery agents in such instances offers a safer, efficient mode of antibiotic delivery at the surgical site either to treat an incumbent infection or provide prophylactic benefit. Antibacterial bioceramics have also been developed by incorporating antibacterial ions, which have great potential to overcome antibiotic resistance. Both the approaches have been widely researched using in vitro and in vivo models. This chapter discusses the antibacterial potential of bioceramic nanoparticles with emphasis on combating bone infections.