Silver Nanoparticles against Foodborne Bacteria. Effects at Intestinal Level and Health Limitations

Abstract

Foodborne diseases are one of the factors that endanger the health of consumers, especially in people at risk of exclusion and in developing countries. The continuing search for effective antimicrobials to be used in the food industry has resulted in the emergence of nanotechnology in this area. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are the nanomaterial with the best antimicrobial activity and therefore, with great potential of application in food processing and packing. However, possible health effects must be properly addressed to ensure food safety. This review presents a detailed description on the main applications of Ag-NPs as antimicrobial agents for food control, as well as the current legislation concerning these materials. Current knowledge about the impact of the dietary exposure to Ag-NPs in human health with special emphasis on the changes that nanoparticles undergo after passing through the gastrointestinal tract and how they alter the oral and gut microbiota, is also summarized. It is concluded that given their potential and wide properties against foodborne pathogens, research in Ag-NPs is of great interest but is not exempt from difficulties that must be resolved in order to certify the safety of their use.

Bactericidal and In-Vitro Cytotoxic Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) Fabricated by Endophytic Actinomycetes and Their Use as Coating for the Textile Fabrics

“…The antibacterial properties of biogenic Ag-NPs may be attributed to different mechanisms, such as charge influence of Ag-NPs. The partial dissolution of the bacterial cell membrane may be achieved due to the electrostatic attraction between the negative charge of the cell wall and the positive charge of the silver nanomaterial or by the interaction of nano-scaled silver with phosphorylated or sulfur proteins of the bacterial cell wall, causing the destabilization and depolarization of bacteria membrane to lose its integrity and leakage of H + [ 67 ]. Anther mechanism of biological toxicity of Ag-NPs could be attributed to the release of Ag + through oxidation process.…”

Endophytic Streptomyces laurentii Mediated Green Synthesis of Ag-NPs with Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties for Developing Functional Textile Fabric Properties

“…The antibacterial efficacy of Ag-NPs could be attributed to the binding of silver with the bacterial cell wall through electrostatic attraction between the positive charge of Ag-NPs and the negative charge of the cell wall. This electrostatic attractions destroys the selective permeability via the reacting of Ag-NPs with sulfur and phosphorylated proteins located in the bacterial cell wall causing partial dissolution of the cell membrane [ 48 ]. Nanoparticles enter the cell and causes the liberation of Ag + , which causes enhancement of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroys the enzymes involved in cellular respiration and are ultimately responsible for cell death [ 49 ].…”

Bacteria Exposed to Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Laser Ablation in Water: Modelling E. coli Growth and Inactivation

“…It has also been shown that AgNPs enhance the antibacterial potential of antibiotics compared to the drugs alone [12,13]. Reports of the impact of AgNPs on human health are still not numerous and are inconclusive as stated in the review paper [14]. It has been show that toxicity also depends on the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles [15] so it might be difficult to compare between toxicity research of AgNPs with different shapes and sizes at different concentrations.…”