9. Conclusion and outlook

The discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s saved the lives of millions of people suffering from infectious diseases. Since then, however, some bacteria have developed resistance to these drugs, meaning that antibiotics are no longer able to kill or limit bacterial growth. For this reason, scientists are looking for any natural or synthetic substance capable of destroying micro-organisms or preventing their proliferation.

The field of nanoparticles is a fast-growing area of research, involving technological developments in the elaboration and characterization of new materials with unique properties, as well as their applications. The considerable efforts made in recent years have made it possible to establish the antimicrobial properties of certain nanoparticles, and to gain a better understanding of their mode and mechanism of action. Indeed, some nanoparticles show...