A Review on Antimicrobial Chitosan-Silver Nanocomposites: A Roadmap Toward Pathogen Targeted Synthesis

Abstract

In this review, the authors investigate different methods of synthesizing antimicrobial chitosan-silver nanocomposites and divided these nanocomposites into two major groups on the basis of metallic or ionic nature of silver. Chitosan-metallic silver composites were prepared by following different techniques: chemical, thermal, radiation (gamma ray or UV), and electrochemical. However, the polymeric nature of chitosan allows formation of complexes with silver ions. Their antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated by the disc diffusion method. The authors compare antimicrobial efficacy of all these materials based on the findings of various research groups to come up with a strategy for synthesizing chitosan-silver nanocomposites to target a specific pathogen.

Antibacterial properties and toxicity from metallic nanomaterials

“…27,28 Nanoparticles are categorized as particles that behave as a single unit with respect to transport and reactivity. AgNPs can be immobilized and coated onto surfaces or may be blended with polymers to form composites for better use of their antimicrobial actions.…”

Green synthesis of polysaccharide-based inorganic nanoparticles and biomedical aspects

“…Using this method, a multistep process of NPs production will be replaced by a single step, which is considered as the biggest benefit of the method. It is shown that electrochemical method produces metallic NPs of larger size, whereas electrochemical complexation/UV reduction produces smaller size metallic NPs with an increased antimicrobial activity [30]. The potential beneficial effects of methods such as microemulsion and photo-induced reduction on the characteristics of polysaccharide-based metallic NPs needs to be considered in the future studies [22].…”

Chitosan‐based multifunctional nanomedicines and theranostics for targeted therapy of cancer

“…For instance, it has been demonstrated that CS is one of the prime candidates to disperse and stabilize silver NPs to prepare potent antimicrobial CS–silver nanocomposites (NCs) . CS can make complexation with silver ions via free amino and hydroxyl groups in the CS chain, and hence can favor the stabilization of metal NPs …”

“…153,154 CS can make complexation with silver ions via free amino and hydroxyl groups in the CS chain, and hence can favor the stabilization of metal NPs. 155,156 Having capitalized on the natural fluorescent protein, R-phycoerythrin (PE), Thangam et al studied the novel multifunctional CS-silver-phycoerythrin NCs (CS-Ag-PE NCs). 157 The theranostic potentials of the prepared NCs were investigated against triple-negative breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231.…”