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Review
. 2021 Oct 19;22(20):11272.
doi: 10.3390/ijms222011272.

Advances in Nanotechnology towards Development of Silver Nanoparticle-Based Wound-Healing Agents

Zimkhitha B Nqakala  1 , Nicole R S Sibuyi  2 , Adewale O Fadaka  2 , Mervin Meyer  2 , Martin O Onani  1 , Abram M Madiehe  2
Affiliations
Review

Advances in Nanotechnology towards Development of Silver Nanoparticle-Based Wound-Healing Agents

Zimkhitha B Nqakala et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Since antiquity, silver-based therapies have been used in wound healing, wound care and management of infections to provide adequate healing. These therapies are associated with certain limitations, such as toxicity, skin discolouration and bacterial resistance, which have limited their use. As a result, new and innovative wound therapies, or strategies to improve the existing therapies, are sought after. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown the potential to circumvent the limitations associated with conventional silver-based therapies as described above. AgNPs are effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and are less toxic, effective at lower concentrations and produce no skin discolouration. Furthermore, AgNPs can be decorated or coupled with other healing-promoting materials to provide optimum healing. This review details the history and impact of silver-based therapies leading up to AgNPs and AgNP-based nanoformulations in wound healing. It also highlights the properties of AgNPs that aid in wound healing and that make them superior to conventional silver-based wound treatment therapies.

Keywords: antimicrobial agents; nanotechnology; silver nanoparticles; silver-based therapy; wound healing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The basic stages of wound healing. Stage I is the homeostasis phase and it occurs immediately after injury. Stage II is inflammation, where a number of enzymes and growth factors are produced to fight off infection. Stage III represents the proliferation stage; this is where extracellular matrix (ECM) and collagen are produced, leading to re-epithelisation. The final stage, stage IV, is the remodelling stage, where wound closure occurs. Reprinted with permission from Elsevier [13].
Figure 2
Figure 2
The bottom-up and top-down approaches for nanoparticle synthesis. Adapted from [57].
Figure 3
Figure 3
AgNP wound-healing mechanism. Exposure to AgNPs promotes wound closure by preventing bacterial colonisation and inflammation in the wound site. Open wound image adapted from [79].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Main types of nanomaterials explored in wound treatment. Reprinted with permission from MDPI [3].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Routes of cytotoxicity action for AgNPs. (1) Adhesion to cell wall; (2) Cellular internalisation; (3) ROS generation; (4) Genotoxicity. Reprinted with permission from MDPI [61].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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