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Open research questions in Antimicrobial agents and applications

175 gap statements mined from Antimicrobial agents and applications papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,250 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The therapeutic potential of bacterial proton motive force as an antimicrobial target remains largely underexplored. Conventional antibiotics have limitations, including the potential for drug resistance. There is a need for novel therapeutic agents with bactericidal properties.

    Resorantel: a dual-targeting therapeutic with potent efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus with low potential for drug resistance · 2026 · DOI

  • Cytotoxicity, hematocompatibility, and cellular biocompatibility assessments were not investigated in the present study and will therefore constitute important perspectives for future work to further evaluate the biological safety and potential biomedical applicability of the developed formulation.

    Synthesis, characterization and application of poly(ε-caprolactone-co-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) as a carrier for procaine: microsphere formulation, drug release, and antimicrobial activity · 2026 · DOI

  • According to the literature, only limited data have reported the antifungal activity of LAW on some fungal species, whereas nano-capsulated LAW has not been investigated against Candida spp. While the antibacterial activity of LAW is well known, its antifungal activity has been reported in limited literature.

    Exploring the Antifungal Potential of Lawsone-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata: Growth Inhibition and Biofilm Disruption · 2025 · DOI

  • Although so far scientists have made many efforts to understand the correlation between surfaces and the microorganisms’ response to their exposure, further attempts to improve the effectiveness or the selectivity of antimicrobial polymer surfaces are still needed. QACs are among the most powerful antimicrobial functions and hence are used in many industrial products.

    Antimicrobial Polymer Surfaces Containing Quaternary Ammonium Centers (QACs): Synthesis and Mechanism of Action · 2024 · DOI

  • One challenge identified is the ability of Salmonella to develop/acquire tolerance and/or resistance to different antimicrobial agents. Another challenge is the instability of some antimicrobials, such as sodium hypochlorite, which can be influenced by various factors like temperature, concentration, pH, and the presence of metals.

    Antimicrobial Tolerance in Salmonella: Contributions to Survival and Persistence in Processing Environments · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand the factors that limit the efficacy of antimicrobials in poultry processing environments. The paper identifies a gap in the development of effective antimicrobial strategies to control Salmonella in these environments. The current use of single antimicrobial agents may not be sufficient to target multiple pathways within Salmonella.

    Antimicrobial Tolerance in Salmonella: Contributions to Survival and Persistence in Processing Environments · 2024 · DOI

  • PA6 is inherently non-antibacterial. There is a need to develop antibacterial PA6 through the incorporation of functional components.

    Preparation of an Antibacterial Branched Polyamide 6 via Hydrolytic Ring-Opening Co-Polymerization of ε-Caprolactam and Lysine Derivative · 2024 · DOI

  • However, these studies focused only on blood vessels, and little is known about the effects on platelets and prothrombotic risks, another counterpart in the development of cardiovascular diseases.

    Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate Enhanced Procoagulant Activity through Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Phosphatidylserine Exposure in Platelets · 2024 · DOI

  • Antisense PNA Effects in Escherichia coli Are Limited by the Outer-Membrane LPS Layer.

    Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance and Innovative Strategies to Overcome Antimicrobial Resistance · 2026 · DOI

  • Relying on a single recognition signal is insufficient to sustain a high-reliability guidance system over extended periods.

    Recognition–decision–execution: a new design principle for intelligent antimicrobial systems · 2026 · DOI

  • Additional studies on dermal resorption and systemic exposure after single dermal and intravenous administration, along with allergenic and immunotoxicity studies, have already been completed, and their results will be presented in forthcoming publications.

    Evaluation of antiseptic drug candidate pyridosept in preclinical in vivo toxicity studies · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies of the intracellular transport of CORMs and their ‘inactive’ counterparts is required to test this hypothesis.

    Synergistic interactions of ruthenium-based carbon monoxide-releasing molecules and antibiotics in their effects on Escherichia coli · 2026 · DOI

  • Chlorhexidine can cause damage to the epithelium and negatively affect the natural microbiota of the oral cavity when used as a mouth rinse for an extended period. The use of chlorhexidine is limited by its potential to induce resistance and cross-resistance.

    Assessing an effect of a new chlorhexidine-containing drug on the functional activity of EA.hy926 line endothelial cells · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for thorough experimental validations, such as in vitro and in vivo studies, to confirm the efficacy and safety of identified compounds. The analysis focuses on a limited number of compounds and receptors.

    Exploration of antimicrobial potential of Microbacterium barkeri secondary metabolites: A combined experimental and in silico approach · 2026 · DOI

  • The research highlights the need for further investigation on the efficacy and safety of identified compounds.

    Exploration of antimicrobial potential of Microbacterium barkeri secondary metabolites: A combined experimental and in silico approach · 2026 · DOI

  • The study did not evaluate the resistance potential of atovaquone in N. gonorrhoeae. Further studies using clinical isolates and strains with higher efflux activity will be essential to confirm and expand upon the findings. The therapeutic potential of efflux inhibitors is limited by issues such as cytotoxicity and poor selectivity.

    Targeting Membrane Transport and Energy Metabolism for the Identification of Repurposed Drug Candidates Against Neisseria gonorrhoeae Using an In Silico Strategy · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited stability of enzyme formulations. Insufficient pilosebaceous unit penetration data. Lack of anti-biofilm evidence and unstandardised microbiome assessment methods.

    Phage-Derived Endolysins Targeting Cutibacterium acnes: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • The study aims to provide evidence for the safe clinical use of Compound Shiyacha Antibacterial Liniment, which may address a gap in current antibacterial treatments.

    Study on the in vitro antibacterial effects and skin safety of Compound Shiyacha Antibacterial Liniment · 2026 · DOI

  • Increasing antimicrobial resistance is a major global health issue. Identifying novel sources of antibacterial compounds is a challenge. Exploring underexplored environments for novel antibacterial compounds is a challenge.

    Screening of peat soil bacterial isolates producing antibacterial compounds against Salmonella Typhi and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the potential adjuvant properties of compounds that may alter intracellular compound accumulation.

    Targeting Membrane Transport and Energy Metabolism for the Identification of Repurposed Drug Candidates Against Neisseria gonorrhoeae Using an In Silico Strategy · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite current medications and approaches, cancer seems to be expanding at an exponential rate throughout the world. Inherent heterogeneity and complexity of tumor biology seem to be the major obstacles in designing anti-cancer drugs.

    Therapeutic Avenues of Bacteriochlorophyll Derivatives · 2026 · DOI

  • To achieve these objectives, we have identified several specific research directions and associated technical challenges that can guide future work on QAC-based antibacterial coatings: Nontraditional applications (non-contact devices): While QAC-based coatings are widely used in direct-contact biomedical devices, their potential for non-contact medical devices…

    Designing Antibacterial-Based Quaternary Ammonium Coatings (Surfaces) or Films for Biomedical Applications: Recent Advances · 2024 · DOI

  • Further study of the polar group’s influence on the antibacterial activity of the 3-substituted quinuclidine salts with long alkyl chains.

    Quinuclidin-3-one-based quaternary ammonium compounds as potent antibacterials against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies on the effects of the chlorhexidine-EDTA-zinc complex on endothelial cells and its potential to accelerate wound healing. Investigation of the potential applications of the chlorhexidine-EDTA-zinc complex in wound care and other fields.

    Assessing an effect of a new chlorhexidine-containing drug on the functional activity of EA.hy926 line endothelial cells · 2026 · DOI

  • The majority of the analysed studies were in vitro investigations, - The available clinical evidence is limited to a single short-term study, - A considerable proportion of the mapped evidence originated from grey literature sources, - No longitudinal studies assessing the impact of endolysins on skin microbiome…

    Phage-Derived Endolysins Targeting Cutibacterium acnes: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Antimicrobial agents and applications

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need for novel therapeutic agents with bactericidal properties (“Resorantel: a dual-targeting therapeutic with potent efficacy against…”, 2026); (2) Lack of anti-biofilm evidence and unstandardised microbiome assessment methods (“Phage-Derived Endolysins Targeting Cutibacterium acnes: A Scoping Review”, 2026); (3) There is a need to understand the factors that limit the efficacy of antimicrobials in poultry processing environments (“Antimicrobial Tolerance in Salmonella: Contributions to Survival and…”, 2024); (4) There is a need to develop antibacterial PA6 through the incorporation of functional components (“Preparation of an Antibacterial Branched Polyamide 6 via Hydrolytic…”, 2024); (5) These studies focused only on blood vessels, and little is known about the effects on platelets and prothrombotic risks, another counterpart in the development of cardiovascular diseases (“Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate Enhanced Procoagulant Activity through…”, 2024). 175 gap statements have been mined from Antimicrobial agents and applications papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,250 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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