The sudden emergence and rapid spreading of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections and the usual development of resistance against traditional molecular drugs prompt the urgent need for alternative approaches to kill or inactivate pathogenic agents. This motivation has inspired a vast number of research works devoted to the design, synthesis, and application of nanomaterials, specifically inorganic plasmonic nanoparticles, as antimicrobial agents. We will pay special attention to articles from 2019 to 2023 where control of the colloidal properties, i.e., size, morphology, and colloidal stability, are properly considered. Here we will discuss the latest advancement in synthesis, colloidal characterization, and antimicrobial activity of Au and Ag nanoparticles, as well as hybrid systems based on combining metallic NPs with inorganic and organic materials. We will also consider contributions focusing on the green synthesis of plasmonic particles, highlighting the opportunities and the need for better control and predictivity of colloidal and functional properties.

病毒、细菌和真菌感染的突然出现和快速传播以及对传统分子药物耐药性的普遍发展，促使迫切需要替代方法来杀死或灭活病原体。这一动机激发了大量致力于纳米材料（特别是无机等离子体纳米粒子）的设计、合成和应用的研究工作，作为抗菌剂。我们将特别关注 2019 年至 2023 年的文章，其中适当考虑了胶体特性的控制，即尺寸、形态和胶体稳定性。在这里，我们将讨论金和银纳米颗粒的合成、胶体表征和抗菌活性的最新进展，以及基于金属纳米颗粒与无机和有机材料相结合的混合系统。我们还将考虑关注等离子体粒子绿色合成的贡献，强调更好地控制和预测胶体和功能特性的机会和需求。