Green Chemistry Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Potential Anticancer Effects

Abstract

Nanobiotechnology has grown rapidly and become an integral part of modern disease diagnosis and treatment. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are a class of eco-friendly, cost-effective and biocompatible agents that have attracted attention for their possible biomedical and bioengineering applications. Like many other inorganic and organic nanoparticles, such as AuNPs, iron oxide and quantum dots, AgNPs have also been widely studied as components of advanced anticancer agents in order to better manage cancer in the clinic. AgNPs are typically produced by the action of reducing reagents on silver ions. In addition to numerous laboratory-based methods for reduction of silver ions, living organisms and natural products can be effective and superior source for synthesis of AgNPs precursors. Currently, plants, bacteria and fungi can afford biogenic AgNPs precursors with diverse geometries and surface properties. In this review, we summarized the recent progress and achievements in biogenic AgNPs synthesis and their potential uses as anticancer agents.

Keywords: anti-cancer effect; cancer; green chemistry; silver nanoparticles.

Figure 1

Different routes of AgNPs synthesis.

Figure 2

Extracellular enzymatic bacterial synthesis of AgNPs (modified from [54]).

Figure 3

Intracellular non-enzymatic bacterial synthesis of AgNPs (modified from [57]).

Figure 4

Fungal synthesis of AgNPs (modified from [60]).

Figure 5

Synthesis of AgNPs by reaction of AgNO₃ with phytochemicals (concept of this representation was based on [67]).

Figure 6

AgNPs were evaluated for their effects on the process of angiogenesis in a chicken embryonic chorioallantoic membrane model. (A) control egg, (B) microscopic view of A, (C) egg treated with AgNPs, (D) microscopic view of (C) (Adapted from Khandia et al. with permission [144]).

Figure 7

Schematic diagram of cell cycle arrest by AgNPs.