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Nanobacteria: Living Microorganisms or Non-living Calcifying Nanoparticles
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Masoumeh Nezhadali *   , Faeza Ahmadi , Aida Bakhshi |
| Faculty member of Islamshahr Azad University |
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Abstract: |
| Nanobacteria, also known as calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs), were introduced in the late twentieth century as putative self-replicating entities and possible contributors to pathological calcification processes. These particles have been reported in association with several pathological conditions, , including kidney stones, atherosclerotic plaques, dental calculus, and tumor-related calcifications. Early studies attributed life-like or pseudo-biological properties to these structures; however, accumulating physicochemical, molecular, and proteomic evidence has increasingly supported their non-biological nature. Current findings indicate that these particles lack nucleic acids and independent reproductive capacity and are mainly composed of protein–mineral complexes, particularly involving albumin and calcium-containing minerals. Relevant studies published up to 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords related to nanobacteria and calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs). This narrative aims to examine the historical background of nanobacteria, evaluate the evidence supporting and opposing their living nature, review current identification methods, and discuss their potential roles in human diseases associated with pathological calcification. |
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| Keywords: Nanobacteria, Calcifying nanoparticles, Pathological calcification, Kidney stones, atherosclerosis. |
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Type of Study: Review |
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