Inorganic Antimicrobial Materials

Guangshun Yi; Siew Ping Teong; Yugen Zhang; Jackie Y. Ying

doi:10.1021/acsnano.5c21363

Inorganic Antimicrobial Materials

Guangshun Yi^*
, Siew Ping Teong
, Yugen Zhang^*
, Jackie Y. Ying^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by various pathogens pose a major threat throughout human history. While antibiotics have saved many lives from infections, the rise of antibiotic resistance has reduced their effectiveness. Before the advent of antibiotics, metals were used as antimicrobial agents. Metals and other inorganic materials exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity through mechanisms distinct from traditional antibiotics, and are capable of killing antibiotic-resistant strains. In this article, we review various inorganic antimicrobial materials and their mechanisms of action, and discuss potential strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	11495-11523
Number of pages	29
Journal	ACS Nano
Volume	20
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c21363
State	Published - 21 Apr 2026
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 American Chemical Society

Keywords

antibiotic resistance
antimicrobial resistance
carbon-based antimicrobials
inorganic antimicrobials
metal-based antimicrobials
microwave-responsive antimicrobials
photocatalytic antimicrobials
photothermal antimicrobials
structure-based antimicrobials
ultrasound-responsive antimicrobials

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science
General Engineering
General Physics and Astronomy

Access to Document

10.1021/acsnano.5c21363

Cite this

@article{260825a2a3394b2fab96b1b0b60c0822,

title = "Inorganic Antimicrobial Materials",

abstract = "Infectious diseases caused by various pathogens pose a major threat throughout human history. While antibiotics have saved many lives from infections, the rise of antibiotic resistance has reduced their effectiveness. Before the advent of antibiotics, metals were used as antimicrobial agents. Metals and other inorganic materials exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity through mechanisms distinct from traditional antibiotics, and are capable of killing antibiotic-resistant strains. In this article, we review various inorganic antimicrobial materials and their mechanisms of action, and discuss potential strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.",

keywords = "antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial resistance, carbon-based antimicrobials, inorganic antimicrobials, metal-based antimicrobials, microwave-responsive antimicrobials, photocatalytic antimicrobials, photothermal antimicrobials, structure-based antimicrobials, ultrasound-responsive antimicrobials",

author = "Guangshun Yi and Teong, \{Siew Ping\} and Yugen Zhang and Ying, \{Jackie Y.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 American Chemical Society",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1021/acsnano.5c21363",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

pages = "11495--11523",

journal = "ACS Nano",

issn = "1936-0851",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "15",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Inorganic Antimicrobial Materials

AU - Yi, Guangshun

AU - Teong, Siew Ping

AU - Zhang, Yugen

AU - Ying, Jackie Y.

PY - 2026/4/21

Y1 - 2026/4/21

N2 - Infectious diseases caused by various pathogens pose a major threat throughout human history. While antibiotics have saved many lives from infections, the rise of antibiotic resistance has reduced their effectiveness. Before the advent of antibiotics, metals were used as antimicrobial agents. Metals and other inorganic materials exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity through mechanisms distinct from traditional antibiotics, and are capable of killing antibiotic-resistant strains. In this article, we review various inorganic antimicrobial materials and their mechanisms of action, and discuss potential strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

AB - Infectious diseases caused by various pathogens pose a major threat throughout human history. While antibiotics have saved many lives from infections, the rise of antibiotic resistance has reduced their effectiveness. Before the advent of antibiotics, metals were used as antimicrobial agents. Metals and other inorganic materials exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity through mechanisms distinct from traditional antibiotics, and are capable of killing antibiotic-resistant strains. In this article, we review various inorganic antimicrobial materials and their mechanisms of action, and discuss potential strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

KW - antibiotic resistance

KW - antimicrobial resistance

KW - carbon-based antimicrobials

KW - inorganic antimicrobials

KW - metal-based antimicrobials

KW - microwave-responsive antimicrobials

KW - photocatalytic antimicrobials

KW - photothermal antimicrobials

KW - structure-based antimicrobials

KW - ultrasound-responsive antimicrobials

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036318282

U2 - 10.1021/acsnano.5c21363

DO - 10.1021/acsnano.5c21363

M3 - Review article

C2 - 41945705

AN - SCOPUS:105036318282

SN - 1936-0851

VL - 20

SP - 11495

EP - 11523

JO - ACS Nano

JF - ACS Nano

IS - 15

ER -

Inorganic Antimicrobial Materials

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this