Persistent Antimicrobial Activity in Piezocatalytic Nanoparticles: The Critical Role of Synthesis Design

Abstract

Traditional antimicrobial strategies depend on the sustained presence of active agents, which often lose efficacy once degraded or removed. Recent advances in nanomaterial engineering challenge this paradigm, with piezocatalytic systems exhibiting enduring antimicrobial activity well beyond external stimulation. Optimized synthesis parameters—particularly calcination, defect engineering, and ultrasonic treatment—create crystalline architectures that sustain reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation even in the absence of continuous input. These features transform antimicrobial activity into a programmable material property, preserved by careful post-synthesis handling. Potential applications include bactericidal surfaces in healthcare and continuous disinfection in water treatment, reducing dependence on chemical agents. Importantly, such physically driven mechanisms offer strategic advantages against multidrug-resistant organisms by minimizing selective pressure for resistance. Overall, strategic synthesis design enables the creation of durable, self-renewing antimicrobial platforms with profound implications for global infection control.