Uncovering potential targets for MRSA infection treatment: a nanomedicine perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a formidable global health challenge, responsible for severe infections with unacceptably high mortality rates. Conventional antibiotics, though essential, face growing limitations due to resistance, poor penetration into biofilms, and inability to eliminate intracellular reservoirs. These shortcomings underscore the urgent need to explore MRSA-specific targets, including toxin secretion, quorum sensing, biofilm formation and efflux pumps in the design of intelligent antibiotic delivery systems. Nanocarriers provide an ideal platform to address these gaps by enhancing drug stability, penetration, and site-specific delivery, while enabling the co-administration of antibiotics with anti-virulence agents at otherwise inaccessible infection sites. Areas covered: This review discusses emerging MRSA therapeutic targets, cell wall/membrane synthesis, quorum sensing, biofilms, virulence factors, and efflux pumps, and how nanocarrier-based systems have been engineered to exploit them. Advances from 2015–2025 are analyzed, highlighting nano-enabled strategies that enhance antibiotic efficacy, neutralize toxins, disrupt biofilms, and achieve high drug accumulation at infection foci. Expert opinion: Targeting MRSA’s virulence pathways through nanocarrier systems offers a paradigm shift beyond traditional antibiotics. The next decade will require not only optimization and mechanistic validation but also innovative material design, scalable manufacturing, and integration into clinical practice to realize the promise of nanocarrier-enabled anti-MRSA therapies.