A Current Overview of the Biological and Cellular Effects of Nanosilver

Abstract

Nanosilver plays an important role in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and is becoming increasingly used for applications in nanomedicine. Nanosilver ranges from 1 to 100 nanometers in diameter. Smaller particles more readily enter cells and interact with the cellular components. The exposure dose, particle size, coating, and aggregation state of the nanosilver, as well as the cell type or organism on which it is tested, are all large determining factors on the effect and potential toxicity of nanosilver. A high exposure dose to nanosilver alters the cellular stress responses and initiates cascades of signalling that can eventually trigger organelle autophagy and apoptosis. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the effects of nanosilver on cellular metabolic function and response to stress. Both the causative effects of nanosilver on oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and hypoxic stress—as well as the effects of nanosilver on the responses to such stresses—are outlined. The interactions and effects of nanosilver on cellular uptake, oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species), inflammation, hypoxic response, mitochondrial function, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function and the unfolded protein response, autophagy and apoptosis, angiogenesis, epigenetics, genotoxicity, and cancer development and tumorigenesis—as well as other pathway alterations—are examined in this review.

Interaction of silver nanoparticles with antioxidant enzymes

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated the potency of AgNPs to induce deleterious biological and cellular effects. 1 The toxicity of AgNPs was shown to be a result of an interplay of the particle uptake, dissolution and induction of oxidative stress. 2 Indeed, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells by direct interaction with particles and/ or dissolved species is currently accepted as one of the main mechanisms of cellular toxicity of engineered nanoparticles.…”

“…2 Indeed, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells by direct interaction with particles and/ or dissolved species is currently accepted as one of the main mechanisms of cellular toxicity of engineered nanoparticles. 1,[3][4][5] ROS have many signaling and information functions; however, excessive ROS can collapse the antioxidant defense system, leading to the damage of DNAs, lipids and proteins. 5,6 Antioxidant enzymes have been recognized as important modulators in AgNP induced oxidative stress.…”

“…13 It is currently accepted that the alteration of the enzyme activity might be due to either regulation of genes or to direct surface interaction of the enzymes with AgNPs. 1 In the latter case, the underlying molecular mechanisms, and how the interaction of AgNPs with CAT or SOD can possibly be responsible for redox state disruption, are not fully elucidated. 14 The molecular mechanisms of the interaction between enzymes and nanoparticles were also explored in a number of in vitro studies.…”

Toxic and Genotoxic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles in Drosophila

“…Due to the attributed properties of AgNPs, mainly as antimicrobial agent (Maillard and Hartemann 2012), this engineered nanomaterial is placed among the most often incorporated in nanofunctionalized consumer products (Zhang et al 2016). With regard to their potential harmful effects, different studies have been conducted to understand the underlying mechanisms of action (Stensberg et al 2011;Schluesener and Schluesener 2013;McGillicuddy et al 2016;Cameron et al 2018). The obtained results suggest that AgNPs penetrate cell membranes in a size-dependent ratio.…”

Comparative Study of the Cytotoxic Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Human Lymphocytes and HPB-ALL Cell Line: As an In Vitro Study

“…The anticancer properties of silver nanoparticles have been identified in many studies. Also, silver nanoparticles contribute to DNA damage, increase the expression of the caspase 3 protein and trigger apoptosis, and thus lead to the inhibition of proliferation, through transducing cell death signals, which is very important in cancer treatment (14). Silver nanoparticles can interact with membrane proteins and activate cellular signaling pathways that lead to cell division inhibition (15)(16)(17).…”