Nanomaterials and Photocatalytic Strategies as Novel Antimicrobial Combats of Resistant Waterborne Pathogens

Waterborne infections and antimicrobial resistance are pressing global challenges at the intersection of environmental chemistry, microbiology, and public health. Conventional water treatment systems are struggling to meet the demands posed by emerging pathogens and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, which proliferate through inadequately treated wastewater. Meanwhile, the persistence of pharmaceutical and biological contaminants in aquatic environments undermines progress toward clean water and sanitation goals. Recent strides in materials science - particularly in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), photocatalytic systems, and nanocomposites - have opened new pathways for disinfection, contaminant removal, pathogen detection, and antibiotic resistance mitigation. However, despite growing interest, the integration of advanced material technologies with microbiological understanding of waterborne pathogen behavior remains underexplored. A more cohesive investigation linking these domains is essential to translate laboratory-scale materials innovations into practical, scalable solutions.This Research Topic aims to bridge the gap between material design, photocatalytic mechanisms, and infection microbiology to advance safe, effective, and sustainable water purification and monitoring technologies. It seeks contributions that explore how advanced nanomaterials - especially MOF-based platforms - interact with microbial populations, improve disinfection efficiency, enable sensitive pathogen detection, or mitigate antimicrobial resistance dissemination. Specific questions include how MOFs or semiconductor photocatalysts can be tailored for selective pathogen targeting or rapid biosensing, what physicochemical factors drive antimicrobial activity under realistic conditions, and how wastewater monitoring systems can integrate materials-based detection platforms. The ultimate goal is to advance both theoretical understanding and applied strategies that curb pathogen transmission and resistance spread within aquatic ecosystems.To gather further insights into the convergence between materials-based technologies and microbial water safety, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Metal–organic frameworks and composites for antibiotic or contaminant adsorption and degradation- Design, synthesis, and characterization of photocatalytic and nanostructured materials for pathogen control- Detection of waterborne pathogens and infections using MOF-based materials and advanced nanomaterials- Photocatalytic disinfection under solar or visible light conditions and process optimization- Interaction mechanisms between advanced materials and microbial systems- Integration of materials science with wastewater epidemiology and biosensing approaches- Mitigation strategies for antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments Topic editors: Dhanaprabhu Pattappan, Ranjith Kumar Dharman, Sivaselvam S Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84713/nanomaterials-and-photocatalytic-strategies-as-novel-antimicrobial-combats-of-resistant-waterborne-pathogens