Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy and Enhancing Photodynamic Therapy

Cells. 2023 Aug 7;12(15):2012. doi: 10.3390/cells12152012.

Abstract

Different conventional therapeutic procedures are utilized globally to manage cancer cases, yet the mortality rate in patients with cancer remains considerably high. Developments in the field of nanotechnology have included novel therapeutic strategies to deal with cancer. Biogenic (green) metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) obtained using plant-mediated protocols are attractive to researchers exploring cancer treatment. Biogenic AgNPs present advantages, since they are cost-effective, easy to obtain, energy efficient, and less toxic compared to chemically and physically obtained AgNPs. Also, they present excellent anticancer abilities thanks to their unique sizes, shapes, and optical properties. This review provides recent advancements in exploring biogenic AgNPs as a drug or agent for cancer treatment. Thus, great attention was paid to the anticancer efficacy of biogenic AgNPs, their anticancer mechanisms, their efficacy in cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), their efficacy in targeted cancer therapy, and their toxicity.

Keywords: anticancer; biogenic silver nanoparticles; nanotechnology; photodynamic therapy; phytonanotechnology; toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / economics
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / adverse effects
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / economics
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / therapeutic use
  • Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Silver* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Silver
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (SARChI/NRF-DST) (Grant No. 98337). The University of Johannesburg Global Excellence and Stature, Fourth Industrial Revolution (GES 4.0) Doctoral Scholarship.