A review on nanostructured silver as a basic ingredient in medicine: physicochemical parameters and characterization

[摘要] Recent studies with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the history of silver metal as a broad-spectrum bactericidal and virucidalagent, places silver as one of the future biocidal candidates in the field of nanomedicine to eliminate bacteria and viruses, especially multidrug resistant ones. In this review, we have described the various morphologies of AgNPs and correlated the enhancedbactericidal activity with their prominent {111} facets. In addition to prioritizing the characterization we have also discussed theimportance of quantifying AgNPs and silver ion content (Ag+) and their different mechanisms at the chemical, biological, pharmacological, and toxicological levels. The mechanism of action of AgNPs against various bacteria and viruses including the SARSCoV-2 was analyzed in order to understand its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent with therapeutic efficacy and low toxicity.Further, there is the need to characterize AgNPs and quantify the content of free Ag+ for the implementation of new systematicstudies of this promising agent in nanomedicine and in clinical practice.

[学科分类] 环境监测和分析

[关键词] bactericidal agent;{111} facets;mechanism of action;silver ion;silvernanoparticles;quality control;virucidal agent