Uncovering potential targets for MRSA infection treatment
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Date
2026
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS
Abstract
Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a formidable global health
challenge, responsible for severe infections with unacceptably high mortality rates. Conventional
antibiotics, though essential, face growing limitations due to resistance, poor penetration into biofilms,
and inability to eliminate intracellular reservoirs. These shortcomings underscore the urgent need to
explore MRSA-specific targets, including toxin secretion, quorum sensing, biofilm formation and efflux
pumps in the design of intelligent antibiotic delivery systems. Nanocarriers provide an ideal platform to
address these gaps by enhancing drug stability, penetration, and site-specific delivery, while enabling
the co-administration of antibiotics with anti-virulence agents at otherwise inaccessible infection sites.
Areas covered: This review discusses emerging MRSA therapeutic targets, cell wall/membrane synth-
esis, quorum sensing, biofilms, virulence factors, and efflux pumps, and how nanocarrier-based systems
have been engineered to exploit them. Advances from 2015–2025 are analyzed, highlighting nano-
enabled strategies that enhance antibiotic efficacy, neutralize toxins, disrupt biofilms, and achieve high
drug accumulation at infection foci.
Expert opinion: Targeting MRSA’s virulence pathways through nanocarrier systems offers a paradigm
shift beyond traditional antibiotics. The next decade will require not only optimization and mechanistic
validation but also innovative material design, scalable manufacturing, and integration into clinical
practice to realize the promise of nanocarrier-enabled anti-MRSA therapies.