title: Applications and toxicity of silver nanoparticles: a recent review.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit a consistent amount of flexible properties which endorse them for a larger spectrum of applications in biomedicine and related fields. Over the years, silver nanoparticles have been subjected to numerous in vitro and in vivo tests to provide information about their toxic behavior towards living tissues and organisms. Researchers showed that AgNPs have high antimicrobial efficacy against many bacteria species including Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis and also viruses. Due to their novel properties, the incorporation of silver nanoparticles into different materials like textile fibers and wound dressings can extend their utility on the biomedical field while inhibiting infections and biofilm development. Among the noble metal nanoparticles, AgNPs present a series of features like simple synthesis routes, adequate and tunable morphology, and high surface to volume ratio, intracellular delivery system, a large plasmon field area recommending them as ideal biosensors, catalysts or photo-controlled delivery systems. In bioengineering, silver nanoparticles are considered potentially ideal gene delivery systems for tissue regeneration. The remote triggered detection and release of bioactive compounds of silver nanoparticles has proved their relevance also in forensic sciences. The authors report an up to date review related to the toxicity of AgNPs and their applications in antimicrobial activity and biosensors for gene therapy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Marin
authors: George Mihail
authors: GM
authors: Vlasceanu
authors: Roxana Elena
authors: RE
authors: Tiplea
authors: Ioana Raluca
authors: IR
authors: Bucur
authors: Madalina
authors: M
authors: Lemnaru
authors: Maria Minodora
authors: MM
authors: Marin
authors: Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania. grumezescu@yahoo.com.
authors: Alexandru Mihai
authors: AM
authors: Grumezescu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D012834:Silver