5. Antibacterial Properties of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Many bacterial species have developed the ability to tolerate multiple drugs, and hence there is a severe threat in treating infectious diseases. Since the conventional drugs are becoming largely ineffective, there is an urgent need to find novel antibacterial strategies. To this end, the development of nanomaterials, mainly two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, has emerged as a new class of antimicrobial agents that demonstrate strong antimicrobial properties and are less susceptible to bacterial resistance. Various mechanisms associated with the antibacterial activity of 2D nanomaterials have been exhibited, including physical or mechanical damage, the release of controlled drug/metallic ions, multi-mode synergistic antibacterial activity, oxidative stress, and photothermal/photodynamic effects. In addition to the detailed mechanisms involved in antibacterial activities, this chapter discusses various types of 2D nanomaterials used for antibacterial activities. For better understanding, the 2D nanomaterials are classified into carbon and non-carbon based for antibacterial activities. The present challenges and possible future directions for the development of 2D nanomaterials with advanced antimicrobial properties are also discussed.