Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents

Abstract

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.

Nanoparticles of Bioactive Metals/Metal Oxides and Their Nanocomposites with Antibacterial Drugs for Biomedical Applications

“…Another study reported a reduction in FCV VP1 viral capsid protein level in response to treatment with 10-nanometer AgNPs [ 54 ]. NPs are also able to inhibit poliovirus, zika virus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 [ 55 ].…”

Towards the Antiviral Agents and Nanotechnology-Enabled Approaches Against Parvovirus B19

“…AgNPs reveal the highly great antiviral efficacy against different types of viruses ( Aschalew et al., 2016 ; Park et al., 2018 ). The antiviral mechanisms of AgNPs might involve several processes: 1) interact with the viral surface to destruct the viral genomic material or prevent it from penetrating the cell membrane; 2) interfere with the interaction of the virus with the cell membrane and block the viral attachment; 3) interact with the viral genomic material, inhibit genome replication, and interrupt cellular factors (e.g., protein synthesis) to inhibit viral replication inside the host cell ( Ratan et al., 2021 ).…”

Customizing the spatial distribution and release of silver for the antibacterial actionviabiomineralized self-assembling silver-loaded hydroxyapatite

“…Developing new antibacterial materials is of great significance for preventing the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. 1,2 Because of safety and durability, inorganic antibacterial materials (silver, copper, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, copper oxide) have greatly attracted the attention of chemical and biological researchers. 3 Especially, Ag-based antibacterial materials (Ag + , Ag nanoparticles) are widely used in food packaging, plastic products, paints, coatings, textiles, medical equipment and medical dressings [4][5][6][7] due to their high and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, as well as low toxicity to mammalian cells.…”