Similarities and Differences between Silver Ions and Silver in Nanoforms as Antibacterial Agents

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Feb 2;19(2):444. doi: 10.3390/ijms19020444.

Abstract

Silver is considered as antibacterial agent with well-known mode of action and bacterial resistance against it is well described. The development of nanotechnology provided different methods for the modification of the chemical and physical structure of silver, which may increase its antibacterial potential. The physico-chemical properties of silver nanoparticles and their interaction with living cells differs substantially from those of silver ions. Moreover, the variety of the forms and characteristics of various silver nanoparticles are also responsible for differences in their antibacterial mode of action and probably bacterial mechanism of resistance. The paper discusses in details the aforementioned aspects of silver activity.

Keywords: mode of action; nanotechnology; resistance of bacteria; silver ions; silver nanocompounds; silver nanoparticles.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / genetics
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / genetics
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / metabolism
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / ultrastructure
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / genetics
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / metabolism
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / ultrastructure
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Particle Size
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Silver / pharmacology*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • CusA protein, E coli
  • CusB protein, E coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Silver
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • SilP protein, Salmonella typhimurium