title: Shape-Dependent Skin Penetration of Silver Nanoparticles: Does It Really Matter?
abstract: Advancements in nano-structured materials have facilitated several applications of nanoparticles (NPs). Skin penetration of NPs is a crucial factor for designing suitable topical antibacterial agents with low systemic toxicity. Available reports focus on size-dependent skin penetration of NPs, mainly through follicular pathways. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study that entails variations in skin permeability and diffusion coefficients, penetration rates and depth-of-penetration of differently shaped silver NPs (AgNPs) via intercellular pathways using both in vitro and in vivo models. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs is known. Different shapes of AgNPs may exhibit diverse antimicrobial activities and skin penetration capabilities depending upon their active metallic facets. Consideration of the shape dependency of AgNPs in antimicrobial formulations could help developing an ideal topical agent with the highest efficacy and low systemic toxicity.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.affiliation: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India.
authors.forename: Sukdeb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India.
authors.forename: Pravin K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Naoghare
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sabarinathan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rangasamy
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Myong
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004058:Diffusion; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012834:Silver