Silver nanoparticles as an effective disinfectant: A review

Abstract

The paradigm modifications in the metallic crystals from bulky to micro-size to nano-scale have resulted in excellent and amazing properties; which have been the remarkable interests in a wider range of applications. Particularly, Ag NPs have much attention owing to their distinctive optical, chemical, electrical and catalytic properties that can be tuned with surface nature, size, shapes, etc. and hence these crystals have been used in various fields such as catalysis, sensor, electronic components, antimicrobial agents in the health industry etc. Among them, Ag NPs based disinfectants have paid attention due to the practical applications in our daily life. Therefore the Ag NPs have been used in different sectors such as silver-based air/water filters, textile, animal husbandry, biomedical and food packaging etc. In this review, the Ag NPs as a disinfectant in different sectors have been included in detail.

Keywords: Animal husbandry; Biomedical; Disinfectant; Food packaging, textiles; HAIs; Silver nanoparticles.

Fig. 1

Applications of silver nanoparticles as a disinfectant.

Fig. 2

Proposed steps involved in Ag nanoparticle generation from the parent nanoparticles.

Fig. 3

Antiviral action of silver nanoparticles with dust particles.

Fig. 4

Various factors responsible for hospital acquired infections.

Fig. 5

Antimicrobial actions of silver nanoparticles in the textiles.

Fig. 6

Correlations between raw materials, food handlers and biofilms.

Fig. 7

Antibacterial mechanism of silver nanoparticles.

Fig. 8

Contribution of silver nanoparticles in different sectors.