Counteracting the spreading of multi-drug-resistant pathogens, taking place through
surface-mediated cross-contamination, is amongst the higher priorities in public health policies.
For these reason an appropriate design of antimicrobial nanostructured coatings may allow to
exploit dierent antimicrobial mechanisms pathways, to be specifically activated by tailoring the
coatings composition and morphology. Furthermore, their mechanical properties are of the utmost
importance in view of the antimicrobial surface durability. Indeed, the coating properties might
be tuned dierently according to the specific synthesis method. The present review focuses on
nanoparticle based bactericidal coatings obtained via magneton-spattering and supersonic cluster
beam deposition. The bacteria\u2013NP interaction mechanisms are first reviewed, thus making clear the
requirements that a nanoparticle-based film should meet in order to serve as a bactericidal coating.
Paradigmatic examples of coatings, obtained by magnetron sputtering and supersonic cluster beam
deposition, are discussed. The emphasis is on widening the bactericidal spectrum so as to be eective
both against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, while ensuring a good adhesion to a variety
of substrates and mechanical durability. It is discussed how this goal may be achieved combining
dierent elements into the coating
