Broad-spectrum bioactivities of silver nanoparticles: the emerging trends and future prospects

Abstract

There are alarming reports of growing microbial resistance to all classes of antimicrobial agents used against different infections. Also the existing classes of anticancer drugs used against different tumours warrant the urgent search for more effective alternative agents for treatment. Broad-spectrum bioactivities of silver nanoparticles indicate their potential to solve many microbial resistance problems up to a certain extent. The antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal, acaricidal, larvicidal, lousicidal and anticancer activities of silver nanoparticles have recently attracted the attention of scientists all over the world. The aim of the present review is to discuss broad-spectrum multifunctional activities of silver nanoparticles and stress their therapeutic potential as smart nanomedicine. Much emphasis has been dedicated to the antimicrobial and anticancer potential of silver nanoparticles showing their promising characteristics for treatment, prophylaxis and control of infections, as well as for diagnosis and treatment of different cancer types.

Fig. 1

Mechanism of antiviral effect of AgNPs on different stages of virus replication: 1—interaction with viral surface, 2—interference with viral attachment, 3—inhibition of virus penetration into the cell, 4—interaction with viral genome, 5—inhibition of genome replication, 6—inhibition of protein synthesis, 7—inhibition of assembly and release of virions

Fig. 2

AgNPs in the treatment and control of infectious diseases: antimicrobial properties of AgNPs make them useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of infections (upper part of diagram), while anti-arthropod properties can be used in the control of spread of infections by affecting arthropod vectors (down part of diagram)