Chapters authored
Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles and Their Potential for Antibacterial Applications
The prevalence of infectious diseases is becoming a worldwide problem, and antimicrobial drugs have long been used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, but bacterial resistance has creating serious treatment problems. The development of antibiotic resistance makes scientists around the world to seek new drugs that would be more effective. The use and search for drugs obtained from plants and other natural products have increased in recent years. It is well known that silver and its compounds have strong antibacterial activity. Silver, compared to the other metals, shows higher toxicity to microorganisms, while it exhibits lower toxicity to mammalian cells. The progress in the field of nanotechnology has helped scientists to look for new ways in the development of antibacterial drugs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are interesting for their wide range of applications, e.g. in pharmaceutical sciences, which include treatment of skin diseases (e.g. acne and dermatitis) and other infectious diseases (e.g. post-surgical infections). Various antibacterial aids, such as antiseptic sprays, have also been developed from AgNPs. In this chapter, we have focused on various synthesis methodologies of AgNPs, antibacterial properties, and the mechanism of action.
Part of the book: Bacterial Pathogenesis and Antibacterial Control