Nickel Nanoparticles: Applications and Antimicrobial Role against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved vast antibiotic resistance.
These strains contain numerous virulence factors facilitating the development of severe infections.
Considering the costs, side effects, and time duration needed for the synthesis of novel drugs,
seeking efficient alternative approaches for the eradication of drug-resistant bacterial agents seems
to be an unmet requirement. Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) have been applied as prognostic and
therapeutic cheap agents to various aspects of biomedical sciences. Their antibacterial effects are
exerted via the disruption of the cell membrane, the deformation of proteins, and the inhibition
of DNA replication. NiNPs proper traits include high-level chemical stability and binding affinity,
ferromagnetic properties, ecofriendliness, and cost-effectiveness. They have outlined pleomorphic
and cubic structures. The combined application of NiNPs with CuO, ZnO, and CdO has enhanced
their anti-MRSA effects. The NiNPs at an approximate size of around 50 nm have exerted efficient antiMRSA effects, particularly at higher concentrations. NiNPs have conferred higher antibacterial effects
against MRSA than other nosocomial bacterial pathogens. The application of green synthesis and
low-cost materials such as albumin and chitosan enhance the efficacy of NPs for therapeutic purposes.