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A Novel Strategy for Antimicrobial Agents: Silver Nanoparticles

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Metal Nanoparticles in Pharma

Abstract

Metals, such as copper, gold, and silver, have typically been used for the synthesis of stable dispersions of nanoparticles. Metallic nanoparticles have high biocompatibility owing to their high surface area to lack of charge, volume ratio, and lack of toxicity to humans. In particular, silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag ) are widely used in the field of pathogenic microbiology owing to their potent antimicrobial activities. Their antimicrobial efficacy has been evaluated against bacteria, viruses, and other eukaryotic microbes based on interactions with membranes or cell walls, DNA, or proteins. Nano-Ag exerts antimicrobial activity via a variety of mechanisms, e.g., membrane disruption, apoptosis , and synergy. Accordingly, nano-Ag has wide applications ranging from burn treatments to silver-coated medicinal devices, such as coating stainless steel materials, dental materials, nanogels, nanolotions, etc. Nano-Ag is a potential alternative strategy for the development of cosmetic and pharmacological agents for pathogens that are resistant to existing antibiotics.

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Abbreviations

DHR-123:

Dihydrorhodamine

DiBAC4(3):

Bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid)-trimethine oxonol

DiOC6(3):

3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide

DPH:

1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene

HPF:

3′-(p-hydroxyphenyl) fluorescein

Nano-Ag:

Silver nanoparticles

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TUNEL:

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea

    Heejeong Lee & Dong Gun Lee

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  1. Heejeong Lee
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  2. Dong Gun Lee
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Correspondence to Dong Gun Lee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nanobiotechnology laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, SGB Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India

    Mahendra Rai, Ph.D

  2. Institute of Pharmacy, Department Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics & NutriCosmetics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Ranjita Shegokar, Ph.D

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Lee, H., Lee, D.G. (2017). A Novel Strategy for Antimicrobial Agents: Silver Nanoparticles. In: Rai, Ph.D, M., Shegokar, Ph.D, R. (eds) Metal Nanoparticles in Pharma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63790-7_8

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