title: Silver as antibacterial agent: ion, nanoparticle, and metal.
abstract: The antibacterial action of silver is utilized in numerous consumer products and medical devices. Metallic silver, silver salts, and also silver nanoparticles are used for this purpose. The state of research on the effect of silver on bacteria, cells, and higher organisms is summarized. It can be concluded that the therapeutic window for silver is narrower than often assumed. However, the risks for humans and the environment are probably limited.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Svitlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chernousova
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Epple
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D012834:Silver