Silver nanoparticles and anti-bacterial silver coating: Research and development

BACKGROUND: Current numerous studies have confirmed that silver nanoparticles have been extensively applied due to their good anti-bacterial performances. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the overseas and domestic research and development of anti-bacterial silver coating based on the anti-bacterial mechanism and bio-safety of silver nanoparticles as well as progression of anti-bacterial silver coating. METHODS: The first author retrieved the databases of Web of Science, PubMed and CNKI for relative articles published from January 1976 to January 2015. The keywords were “silver nanoparticles, titanium alloy, implant, antibacterial properties, biosecurity, coating” in English and Chinese, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Because of their small dimension and quantum effects, as well as great specific surface area, silver nanoparticles can be in close contact with pathogenic microorganisms to exert biological effects. Additionally, silver nanoparticles exhibit the excellent resistance to bacteria, fungi, viruses and cancer cells. However, most of their mechanisms of biological effects remain unclear, and there are unresolved problems about the slow-release time of silver nanoparticles in vivo and how to control the slow-release silver ions. Besides, there are fewer long-term animal experiments. Therefore, a large number of laboratory and clinical studies are needed to ensure that silver nanoparticles cannot cause adverse reactions during long-term administration and how to reduce their toxicity.