Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, Applications, and Therapeutic Approaches

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 17; no. 9; p. 1534
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xi-Feng, Liu, Zhi-Guo, Shen, Wei, Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 13.09.2016
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - chemistry; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Green Chemistry Technology; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - therapeutic use; Review; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Silver - therapeutic use; synthesis; cancer therapy; silver nanoparticles; characterization; mechanisms; applications
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms17091534

Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology radically changed the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent various diseases in all aspects of human life. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most vital and fascinating nanomaterials among several metallic nanoparticles that are involved in biomedical applications. AgNPs play an important role in nanoscience and nanotechnology, particularly in nanomedicine. Although several noble metals have been used for various purposes, AgNPs have been focused on potential applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we discuss the synthesis of AgNPs using physical, chemical, and biological methods. We also discuss the properties of AgNPs and methods for their characterization. More importantly, we extensively discuss the multifunctional bio-applications of AgNPs; for example, as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anti-cancer agents, and the mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of AgNPs. In addition, we discuss therapeutic approaches and challenges for cancer therapy using AgNPs. Finally, we conclude by discussing the future perspective of AgNPs.