Silver-based nanoantimicrobials: Mechanisms, ecosafety, and future perspectives

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are metallic zero-dimensional nanomaterials that have attracted a lot of attention due to their conductivity, chemical resistance, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiangiogenic, and antiinflammatory properties. Applying Ag as a microbiocidal agent involves oxidation Ag0 to the Ag+. AgNPs are well-known for their excellent antimicrobial effects against numerous organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Direct contact of AgNPs with large surfaces on the cell wall of bacteria can result in damage to the membrane, causing leakage of cell contents and death of cells. When pathogenic cells are exposed to the AgNPs, a significantly large number of ROS was generated. AgNPs can inhibit the production of different kinds of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes as well as germ tube formation of fungi. Also, AgNPs influence the biosynthesis of organic acid in some fungi and alter the profile of extracellular enzyme, although the total enzymatic activity is increased. Furthermore, AgNPs can disturb the integrity of cell wall and cell regulatory mechanisms, leading to pore formation and cell collapse. The antiviral properties of AgNPs have been reported recently. AgNPs are recorded to associate with glycoproteins on the viral surface and have links to the host cells and then introduce their virus behavior through contact with the viral genome.