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Review
. 2025 Mar 28;9(5):2400380.
doi: 10.1002/gch2.202400380. eCollection 2025 May.

Silver Nanoparticle-Mediated Antiviral Efficacy against Enveloped Viruses: A Comprehensive Review

Ekaterine Mosidze  1 , Gianluigi Franci  2 , Federica Dell'Annunziata  2 , Nicoletta Capuano  2 , Marica Colella  3   4 , Flora Salzano  2 , Massimiliano Galdiero  5 , Aliosha Bakuridze  1 , Veronica Folliero  2
Affiliations
Review

Silver Nanoparticle-Mediated Antiviral Efficacy against Enveloped Viruses: A Comprehensive Review

Ekaterine Mosidze et al. Glob Chall. .

Abstract

Viral infections continue to pose a significant challenge to global health, with increasing resistance to conventional antiviral therapies highlighting the urgent need for alternative treatment strategies. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted attention as broad-spectrum antiviral agents due to their unique physicochemical properties and ability to target multiple stages of viral infection. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the antiviral mechanisms of AgNPs, highlighting their efficacy against clinically relevant enveloped viruses such as influenza, herpes simplex, hepatitis B, and coronaviruses. How key nanoparticle characteristics, including size, shape, surface functionalization, and synthesis methods, influence their antiviral performance is examined. Studies indicate that AgNPs exert their effects through direct interactions with viral particles, inhibition of viral adhesion, and entry into host cells with disruption of viral replication. Furthermore, their potential applications in therapeutic formulations, antiviral coatings, and nanomedicine-based strategies are explored. Despite their promise, challenges regarding cytotoxicity, stability, and large-scale production must be addressed to ensure their safe and effective clinical use. This review highlights the transformative potential of AgNPs in antiviral therapy and highlights the need for further investigation to facilitate their clinical translation in the fight against emerging and drug-resistant viral infections.

Keywords: antiviral activity; silver nanoparticles; viral diseases; viral infection; virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Influenza A virion structure and genome organization.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SARS‐CoV‐2 virion structure and genome organization.
Figure 3
Figure 3
HSV virion structure and genome organization.
Figure 4
Figure 4
HIV virion structure and genome organization.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Dengue virion structure and genome organization.
Figure 6
Figure 6
CHIKV structure and genome organization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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