Application of Silver in Medicine: Historical Aspects and Modern View on the Problem

Abstract

The literature review expounds the basic stages of the application of silver in medicine since the times of ancient civilizations up to date. Its most significant physicochemical properties have been described, the data on silver content in tissues of human body and Earth crust have been given, the modern view about the mechanism of the silver antimicrobial effect has been disclosed. The causes and types of the toxic reactions which are provoked by silver and its compounds in human have been analysed. The data on the danger of the excessive or uncontrolled silver application in medicine are given. The possible perspectives of the wider medical application of silver and its compounds are underlined in connection with the development of nanotechnologies.