The Next Frontier in Antimicrobial Delivery: Emerging and Exploratory Approaches

This research topic focuses on the development of next-generation antimicrobial delivery platforms that enable precise spatiotemporal control of therapeutic action while emphasizing their safety, biocompatibility, and clinical translatability. By integrating advanced materials science, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), and stimuli-responsive delivery mechanisms, these platforms aim to enhance antimicrobial pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, reduce systemic toxicity, overcome multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, and improve clinical outcomes. In this Research Topic we consider the following, but not limited to, sub-themes: • Theragnostic platforms that seamlessly integrate real-time pathogen detection, diagnosis, and targeted therapy.• Smart and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers capable of releasing antimicrobial agents in response to specific biological, chemical, or environmental cues.• Artificial intelligence-assisted and programmable delivery systems for personalized and adaptive antimicrobial interventions.• Bioinspired and adaptive antimicrobial materials that mimic natural defence mechanisms to achieve enhanced efficacy and biocompatibility.• Externally triggered delivery technologies employing light, magnetic fields, ultrasound, or other physical stimuli for precise on-demand drug release.• Quantum dot-, carbon dot-, and graphene-based nanoplatforms for targeted antibiotic delivery, multimodal imaging, and image-guided antimicrobial therapy.• Nanotoxicology and biosafety studies, including investigations of nanoparticle biodistribution, biodegradation, clearance, immunogenicity, off-target effects, long-term toxicity, and interactions with host tissues and the microbiome.These advanced delivery strategies promise to extend the therapeutic lifespan of existing antimicrobials, reduce off-target toxicity, preserve beneficial host microbiota, and significantly improve patient outcomes. This Research Topic welcomes original research articles reporting in vitro, in vivo studies, as well as comprehensive reviews and mini-reviews that advance the understanding of next-generation antimicrobial drug delivery systems. In addition, other article types allowed in the Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy section are: FAIR² DATA Direct Submission, FAIR² Data, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Opinion, Perspective, Systematic Review, Technology and Code. Topic editors: Santi M. Mandal, Yi-Wei Tang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83658/the-next-frontier-in-antimicrobial-delivery-emerging-and-exploratory-approaches