Nanotechnological approaches in quorum sensing inhibition

Abstract

The increasing incidence of drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria has made it essential to explore novel antimicrobials and drug targets. The nanoparticles have been considered as one of the most potential therapeutic agents. Nanomaterials have unique physicochemical properties. In the recent years, nanoparticles have been well characterized for their antimicrobial properties. Apart from their inhibitory effects on pathogens, they are also being increasingly investigated for their effects on biofilm formation and signaling in bacterial cells at sub-inhibitory levels. Quorum sensing (QS) or cell to cell signaling is known to regulate biofilm formation and virulence factor production in pathogenic bacteria. Hence, the QS mechanism offers new drug targets. The nanomaterials at sub-inhibitory concentration can inhibit QS and prevent biofilm formation and virulence development in pathogens. The chapter focuses on the application of nanoparticles as QS inhibitory or quorum quenching agents to attenuate pathogenicity in bacteria and control their recalcitrant biofilms.