Antimicrobial activity and toxicity of gold nanoparticles: research progress, challenges and prospects

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 67; no. 6; pp. 537 - 543
• Main Author: Tao, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics; Antibodies; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial properties; Biocompatibility; biosynthesis; Cell Line; Enterobacter aerogenes - drug effects; Enterobacter aerogenes - growth & development; Experimental methods; Gold; Gold - chemistry; Gold - pharmacology; gold nanoparticle; Humans; In vivo methods and tests; Medical research; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; modification; nanogold; Nanoparticles; Organic chemistry; Researchers; Staphylococcus epidermidis - drug effects; Staphylococcus epidermidis - growth & development; Toxicity; Vaccines; toxicity; antimicrobial activity; gold nanoparticle; modification; biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.13082

Gold nanoparticles are emerging materials that exhibit characteristics distinct from those of traditional materials and that have promising potential for application in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology and medicine. During the past decades, numerous studies on the antimicrobial activity and toxicity of gold nanoparticles have been published. With respect to antimicrobial activity, gold nanoparticles conjugated with small molecules, such as antibiotics, drugs, vaccines and antibodies, are more efficient than individual nanoparticles and molecules. Regarding the toxicity effects, results are often unclear and conflicting because of the lack of a standard experimental method; various studies have used different approaches, administration routes and doses, and similar experiments may lead to different conclusions. To provide a systematic overview of and insight in the current knowledge for researchers committed to this filed, we discuss the recent research advances related to the antimicrobial activity and toxicity of gold nanoparticles, both in vitro and in vivo, and identify major issues that require further study. Significance and impact of the study This paper discusses the recent research progress on antimicrobial activity and toxicity of gold nanoparticles and provides general insights into the field for researchers committed to this field. Significance and Impact of the Study: This paper discusses the recent research progress on antimicrobial activity and toxicity of gold nanoparticles and provides general insights into the field for researchers committed to this field.