Antibacterial Applications of Silver Nanoparticles

A brief review on the antimicrobial application of Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) is presented. Ag in nanoform is considered less toxic than Ag+ ions and hence, a considerable amount of research has been carried out on the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities of Ag nanoparticles. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) stabilized AgNPs provide overwhelming evidence on their potency against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia etc. A recent study using biostabilized AgNPs have shown their efficacies against a vast range of bacteria. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs has also resulted in the development of wound dressings and medical devices. Some results on the antifungal activities exhibited by them are also highlighted.