Pharmaceutics (Nov 2021)

Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents

  • Zubair Ahmed Ratan,
  • Fazla Rabbi Mashrur,
  • Anisha Parsub Chhoan,
  • Sadi Md. Shahriar,
  • Mohammad Faisal Haidere,
  • Nusrat Jahan Runa,
  • Sunggyu Kim,
  • Dae-Hyuk Kweon,
  • Hassan Hosseinzadeh,
  • Jae Youl Cho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13122034
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 12
p. 2034

Abstract

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Since the early 1990s, nanotechnology has led to new horizons in nanomedicine, which encompasses all spheres of science including chemistry, material science, biology, and biotechnology. Emerging viral infections are creating severe hazards to public health worldwide, recently, COVID-19 has caused mass human casualties with significant economic impacts. Interestingly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibited the potential to destroy viruses, bacteria, and fungi using various methods. However, developing safe and effective antiviral drugs is challenging, as viruses use host cells for replication. Designing drugs that do not harm host cells while targeting viruses is complicated. In recent years, the impact of AgNPs on viruses has been evaluated. Here, we discuss the potential role of silver nanoparticles as antiviral agents. In this review, we focus on the properties of AgNPs such as their characterization methods, antiviral activity, mechanisms, applications, and toxicity.

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