Antimicrobial and antiviral materials: A review of applications and mechanisms of action

The prevention of infections is an important concern for humanity, this challenge has impulse scientific and technological development of materials. Therefore, this review covers a systematic, scientific, and technological analysis of antimicrobials and antiviral materials, their mechanism of action, resistance and toxicity. According to the results, the use of hybrid strategies, i.e., using materials/nanomaterials and free compounds, is the key to enhancing the biological properties and broadening the applications of antimicrobials and antivirals. The next generation of antimicrobial and antiviral materials should focus on reducing human toxicity and resistance microorganism resistance. A promising strategy, is the encapsulation of natural compounds, which could present low toxicity, increase their therapeutic effect (targeting specific site within the cell), reduce costs, and improve their stability.