Page | 422 The hybrid nanomaterial PVA/AgNps, as biologically active product with reserved space in the antimicrobial therapy Daniela Pencheva 1,* , Tzvetan Velinov 2 , Petia Genova-Kalou 2 , Todor Kantardjiev 2 1 Bul Bio-NCIPD, 26 Yanko Sakazov, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria 2 National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 26 Yanko Sakazov, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria *corresponding author e-mail address: penchevadani@gmail.com ABSTRACT Increased microbial resistance, the emerged pan-resistant strains and the lack of approved alternative for treatment of such pathogens are urgent issues that cannot be delayed according to microbiologists, pharmacists and doctors. One of the main advantages of the metal nanoparticles converted in their major deficiency. The fact that they cannot differentiate pathogen from not pathogen bacteria make them difficult, but applicable for targeted therapy. The most prescribed antibiotics, nowadays, are the same, aren't they? Although nanobiomaterials exert their active action by multiple not clarified yet mechanisms, it is clear that their nano-sizes give them an advantage over all known antibiotics so far. However, there are already reports of development of resistance or accurate indifference towards nanobiomaterials. The mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics and whether they are the same for nanobiomaterials will be examined. Can the antibiotics by using the nanobiomaterials harness the forces in the fight against life-threatening pathogens? What is the type of interaction between them and can it be successful? Keywords: antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, hybrid nanomaterial, silver nanoparticles, PVA/AgNps. 1. INTRODUCTION Antibiotics are the only currently approved form of treating infections both in hospitals and in the community. Collectively named, these include antimicrobial agents for the treatment of both bacterial and fungal infections. They are also used in complications after viral infections. The increasing antibiotic resistance, the impotence of antibiotics against viral infections, as well as causing many side effects are some of the reasons increasingly for treatment to be prescribed alternative products instead antibiotics. Their application, however, is quite limited in severe invasive and systemic infections. Because of this, great hope is assigned to the developments related to the success of nanotechnologies when deciding the issues of antibiotic resistance. We will dwell on a brief overview of the antibiotics and their mechanisms of resistance and will then demonstrate the established properties and fields of application of a well-studied physico-chemical, microbiological and cytological hybrid nanomaterial. This will answer the question whether such developments future alternatively to antibiotics in multi- and pan- resistant pathogens. 2. THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTIBIOTICS Microorganisms have existed on Earth for more than 4 billion years and exhibit the greatest genetic and metabolic diversity. They are an essential component of the biosphere and serve an important role in the maintenance and sustainability of ecosystems. Killing microorganisms is relatively simple as long as it does not have to be done selectively. They can be killed by heat, radiation, strong acids, etc. To target them specifically, without damaging the host cells and tissues, is much more difficult. Antibiotics are molecules that stop microbes, bacteria, viruses and fungi from growing, or kill them outright. The era of antibiotics began with Paul Ehrlich, who first coined the term "magic bullet", chemical substance for the treatment of bacterial infections. He discovered the first antibiotic in 1910, salvarsan, for the treatment of syphilis. Ehrlich is a follower of Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin in 1928. Antibiotics that stop the bacteria from growing are bacteriostatic, exemplified tetracycline and antibiotics that cause the death of bacterial cells are bactericidal as penicillin. However, the difference is not exact and depends on the amount of the drug, the type of bacteria and the growth phase. Antimicrobial drugs work better against actively growing bacteria than persistent agents or spores. Antibiotics can have a wide and narrow range of action. For example, ciprofloxacin, a broad spectrum antibiotic, active against Gram (+) bacteria, Gram (-) bacteria; such as vancomycin, which has a relatively narrow range and can be used mainly against Gram (+) microorganisms. Fidaxomicin has an even narrower range, and can be used only for Clostridium difficile. Antibiotics act by inhibiting certain vital bacterial processes of the bacterial cells or metabolism. On this basis, we can divide them into five main categories: 1. Cell wall inhibitors, such as: penicillin and vancomycin; 2. Inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis, such as: fluoroquinolones that inhibits DNA synthesis and rifampin that inhibits RNA synthesis; 3. Protein synthesis inhibitors, such as: aminoglycoside; Volume 5, Issue 3, 2016, 422 - 438 ISSN 2284-6808 Open Access Journal Received: 10.11.2015 / Revised: 15.07.2016 / Accepted: 20.08.2016 / Published: 15.09.2016 Review Article Letters in Applied NanoBioScience www.NanoBioLetters.com