Application of Chemically and Physically Synthesized Metal Nanoparticles to Staphylococcus aureus

The infections caused by S. aureus have emerged as a grave challenge to human health worldwide. Further, conventional antibiotic therapies for S. aureus-mediated infections are gradually becoming ineffective due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In search of alternative novel therapeutic strategies against S. aureus, the use of metal nanoparticles is proliferating. Among different synthesis methods of metal nanoparticles, chemical and physical methods are the most common. Despite reports of metal nanoparticles' efficacy against drug-resistant S. aureus strains, contemporary reports that the bacteria can evolve resistance to nanoparticles are a significant source of concern. There is also the issue of metal nanoparticle toxicity, which affects a variety of organisms. The clinical translatability of published research conclusions is another major hurdle in nanotherapeutics research. More research is needed to make nanoparticle-based treatments a viable and long-term therapy for infections caused by S. aureus. The present review provides an overview of the therapeutic application of physicochemically synthesized nanoparticles (electron beam, mechanical grinding, milling, spray pyrolysis, vapour phase synthesis, electrolysis, photochemical, solutions and gels, wound healing, anticancer, antioxidant, biosensing, cosmetics, antimicrobial, human health care and water treatment) of various metals (transition metals, post-transition metals, alkaline earth metals, rare earth metals, etc.) against various S. aureus strains.