Application of AgNPs in biomedicine: An overview and current trends

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can provide excellent, reliable, and effective solutions for anti-microbial, drug-loading, and other purposes due to their extraordinary physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Different methods have been used in the synthesis and characterization of AgNPs, and AgNPs have been applied in various fields of biomedicine, including dentistry, oncology, diabetology, neurodegenerative disorders, and so on. However, the cytotoxicity of AgNPs has not been solved during their application, making them controversial. The aim of this review is to summarize the capabilities, synthesis, and characterization methods, and the application of AgNPs in various biomedicine fields. In addition, the toxicity of AgNPs is explicated, and the methods of enhancing the benefit properties and reducing the toxicity of AgNPs are demonstrated. In the end, the perspective of AgNPs’ research and application are proposed for the great potential in biomedicine contributing to human health.

Keywords

• silver nanoparticles
• synthesis
• characterization
• antimicrobial
• anticancer
• biomedical application
• dentistry
• toxicity