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The present review explores the role of nanotechnology in mitigating the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in wastewater environments. The global rise of AMR has emerged as a major public health challenge, with wastewater treatment systems serving as critical reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and facilitating their transfer among microbial populations. Mobile genetic elements, including plasmids, transposons, integrons, and bacteriophages, play a central role in horizontal gene transfer, accelerating the spread of resistance determinants across environmental and pathogenic bacteria. This review highlights recent advances in nanoparticle-based strategies aimed at disrupting MGE-mediated gene transfer, including reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced DNA damage, surface-mediated adsorption and sequestration of extracellular genetic material, photocatalytic and photothermal inactivation for targeted genetic disruption. Although significant progress has been made, important research gaps remain regarding the long-term environmental fate of nanomaterials, nanoparticle-microbiome interactions, ecological safety, scalability, and integration into existing wastewater treatment infrastructures. Based on these considerations, this review analyses relevant studies from major scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The aim of this review is to evaluate the mechanisms by which engineered nanomaterials can inhibit MGE-driven AMR dissemination and assess their applicability in wastewater treatment systems. By synthesizing current evidence, this review provides insights into the development of sustainable and effective nanotechnological interventions for controlling AMR transmission and supporting global public health efforts.
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Shayista et al. (2026) studied this question.