Tellurium and tellurium composites: synthesis strategies and antibacterial applications

In recent years, nanoparticles have received considerable attention due to their physicochemical properties across a wide range of applications, such as medicine, energy, and environmental science. Tellurium nanoparticles (TeNPs) have better antibacterial activity, are biocompatible, and can be made in ways that are safe for the environment. TeNPs have a reactive surface and can change shape, which makes their interactions with bacterial cell membranes stronger. These interactions break down membranes and kill cells through electrostatic attraction and penetration, among other things. Adding TeNPs to composite materials makes them more antibacterial, which creates a long-term solution for dealing with pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics. This study reviews the reported TeNPs and their composites for their antibacterial properties and their potential as new antibacterial drugs.