Nanomedicine approaches to enhance the effectiveness of meropenem: a strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance

Meropenem, a carbapenem typically reserved for treating severe infections, has encountered resistance from certain bacteria, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia). Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising strategy to combat drug-resistant bacteria. By targeting specific biosynthetic and enzymatic pathways and penetrating bacterial membranes, NPs can function as antibiotic delivery systems (nanocarriers) or exhibit intrinsic antibacterial properties. When combined with various types of nanoparticles–such as lipid- and polymer-based NPs, metallic NPs, silica NPs, nanoemulsions, niosomes, carbon NPs, and nanocomposites–meropenem has shown enhanced effectiveness in overcoming resistance to MDR bacteria and reducing adverse effects. However, several challenges persist, including scaling up industrial production, ensuring safety and favorable toxicity profiles, and addressing the limited availability of in vivo evidence. This review explores nanoparticle strategies to combat resistance to meropenem.