title: Silver nanoparticles as potential antibacterial agents.
abstract: Multi-drug resistance is a growing problem in the treatment of infectious diseases and the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has produced antibiotic resistance for many human bacterial pathogens. Advances in nanotechnology have opened new horizons in nanomedicine, allowing the synthesis of nanoparticles that can be assembled into complex architectures. Novel studies and technologies are devoted to understanding the mechanisms of disease for the design of new drugs, but unfortunately infectious diseases continue to be a major health burden worldwide. Since ancient times, silver was known for its anti-bacterial effects and for centuries it has been used for prevention and control of disparate infections. Currently nanotechnology and nanomaterials are fully integrated in common applications and objects that we use every day. In addition, the silver nanoparticles are attracting much interest because of their potent antibacterial activity. Many studies have also shown an important activity of silver nanoparticles against bacterial biofilms. This review aims to summarize the emerging efforts to address current challenges and solutions in the treatment of infectious diseases, particularly the use of nanosilver antimicrobials.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy. gianluigi.franci@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy. annarita.falanga@unina.it.|Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, 80100 Napoli, Italy. annarita.falanga@unina.it.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falanga
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy. stefania.galdiero@unina.it.|Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, 80100 Napoli, Italy. stefania.galdiero@unina.it.|CIRPEB, and DFM, University of Naples Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy. stefania.galdiero@unina.it.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galdiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy. luciana.palomba@igb.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra 444602, India. mkrai123@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy. giancarlo.morelli@unina.it.|Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, 80100 Napoli, Italy. giancarlo.morelli@unina.it.|CIRPEB, and DFM, University of Naples Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy. giancarlo.morelli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: CIRPEB, and DFM, University of Naples Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy. massimiliano.galdiero@unina2.it.|Department of Experimental Medicine, II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy. massimiliano.galdiero@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galdiero
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012834:Silver
keywords: AgNPs; antibacterial; biofilm; resistence