Silver Nanomaterials Research Articles

Animal-based evidence supports protective activity of bioengineered silver and gold nanomaterials on hepatic and renal function profile parameters

The liver and kidneys are vital organs responsible for essential metabolic and excretory functions, and their protection is a cornerstone of therapeutic innovation. This review highlights the emerging role of eco-friendly, bioengineered silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as protective agents for liver and kidney health, based on evidence from animal studies. The discussion emphasizes green synthesis approaches, which offer sustainable and biocompatible routes for nanoparticle production. Key findings reveal the effects of these nanoparticles (NPs) on hepatic enzymes—Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)—and renal function markers, including urea and creatinine levels, under both healthy and pathological conditions. In diseased animal models, biosynthesized NPs significantly reduced ALT, AST, ALP, urea, and creatinine levels, demonstrating their protective effects. Conversely, in healthy animals, lower nanoparticle concentrations exhibited no statistically significant impact on these parameters, suggesting their safety at therapeutic doses. This review presents the novelty of bioengineered NPs as potential therapeutic agents for hepatic and renal protection while highlighting the need for further research into their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to advance clinical translation.

Optical Limiting Performance of Silver, Gold, and Silver-Gold Nanomaterials

Optical Limiting Performance of Silver, Gold, and Silver-Gold Nanomaterials

Novel experimental and theoretical study on the synthesis and use of microalgae-derived silver nanomaterials for water purification

Novel experimental and theoretical study on the synthesis and use of microalgae-derived silver nanomaterials for water purification

Recent Plasmonic Gold- and Silver-Assisted Raman Spectra for Advanced SARS-CoV-2 Detection.

COVID-19 has become one of the deadliest epidemics in the past years. In efforts to combat the deadly disease besides vaccines, drug therapies, and facemasks, significant focus has been on designing specific methods for the sensitive and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2. Of these, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an attractive analytical tool for the identification of SARS-CoV-2. SERS is the phenomenon of enhancement of Raman intensity signals from molecular analytes anchored onto the surfaces of roughened plasmonic nanomaterials. This work gives an updated summary of plasmonic gold nanomaterials (AuNMs) and silver nanomaterials (AgNMs)-based SERS technologies to identify SARS-CoV-2. Due to extreme "hot spots" promoting higher electromagnetic fields on their surfaces, different shapes of AuNMs and AgNMs combined with Raman probes have been reviewed for enhancing Raman signals of probe molecules for quantifying the virus. It also reviews progress made recently in the design of certain specific Raman probe molecules capable of imparting characteristic SERS response/tags for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

An experimental assessment of five distinct solar distiller designs' thermo-economic performance

This study evaluates five solar still (SS) designs—spherical, cylindrical, pyramid, conventional, and double-slope—to determine the most efficient configuration for freshwater production at a specific test location. In initial testing, the unmodified SS designs were compared to a traditional distiller. Modifications were then made to the spherical SS by adding external reflectors, followed by integrating phase change materials (PCM) with silver nanomaterials. The final configuration tested included the spherical SS with reflectors, fans, and external condensers. Results showed substantial productivity increases over the conventional solar still (CSS), with production enhancements of 115%, 105%, 68%, and 31% for the spherical, cylindrical, pyramid, and double-slope SS designs, respectively. The spherical SS with optimized Nano-PCM and reflectors achieved a 230% increase over CSS (10420 kg/m² vs. 3150 kg/m²). The best-performing configuration, combining a fan, condenser, and reflectors, yielded a 253% improvement, with daily outputs of 11.3 kg/m² compared to 3.2 kg/m² for CSS. Economic analysis revealed that the optimized spherical SS configuration reduced the cost of freshwater production to 0.01 $/kg, significantly lower than the conventional SS cost of 0.024 $/kg.

Bio-catalytic activity of novel poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate hybridized silver nanomaterials

The widespread extensive use of common antibiotics and increase in drug-resistant bacterial strains have attained focus on the search for novel and effective antiproliferative agents. This study uses Periploca aphylla Dcne's as reducing and stabilizing agents to produce stable poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate hybridized silver nanomaterials (PEGMA-AgNPs) with controlled physicochemical and biological properties in an environment friendly manner.The study revealed that poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) coating had no effect on the crystal structure of Periploca aphylla Dcne's capped silver nanoparticles (Pe-AgNPs) which shows that only physical interactions took place during capping.Characterization techniques like UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Zeta potential (ZP), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used. Relationships between the physicochemical properties of Pe-AgNPs, including synthesis, temperature, pH, and salt were studied. The produced PEGMA-AgNPs, which had a spherical shape and a negatively-charged Zeta potential of -20.2 mV, were stable in colloidal form for six months, as evidenced by a single symmetric surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 425 nm.Pe-AgNPs and PEGMA-AgNPs used against PC-3 human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line and in addition, they also exhibited up-regulated anti-proliferative activity to this cell line. These results showed that gels and films which can be loaded with PEGMA-AgNPs may have potential as antiproliferative systems. Catalytic activity of the Pe-AgNPs and hybrid system were tested by choosing the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a model reaction. Both synthesized Pe-AgNPs and PEGMA-AgNPs exhibits catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol. Surprisingly however among various kinds of Pe-Ag nano-composites investigated only those stabilized by PEGMA had high catalytic activity. The study revealed that PEGMA-AgNPs exhibited strong antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic and antileishmanial properties.

(Invited) AI-Driven Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Rapid Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders

The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in material selection is rapidly advancing, yet the integration of AI into the design and optimization of sensing materials tailored for disease-related molecules and material interfaces remains nascent. In this study, we propose a data-driven approach for the design of materials, considering composition and morphology to enhance localized electric fields and molecular affinity, thereby facilitating improved Raman analysis of urine organic acids associated with metabolic diseases. Our AI-designed copper nanoplasmonic substrate exhibits a remarkable 15-fold increase inRaman enhancement compared to commonly utilized gold nanomaterials (3 times greater enhancement than silver nanomaterials). Combining Raman spectroscopic analysis of clinical urine samples with machine learning techniques, we identify urinary markers indicative of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), a spectrum of nutrient processing deficiencies affecting approximately 0.04% of the population. Notably, the non-targeted nature and operational simplicity of Raman spectroscopy enable rapid acquisition of spectral data within 10 minutes. Leveraging a modest dataset of 60 clinical samples, our decision model achieves a sensitivity of 95.4% and specificity of 80.5% in distinguishing between normal and abnormal samples, with an overall accuracy of 85% for categorizingabnormal subtypes. Subsequent blinded sample tests validate the effectiveness of the pretrained model, demonstrating an accuracy of 87.5%. This study introduces a novel approach combining surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy with AI-driven machine learning, offering a streamlined and timely identification of IEMs such as ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Our findings highlight the potential of this approach to enhance patient care, address diagnostic challenges in IEM, and facilitate broader screening initiatives.

Silver Nanomaterials In Antimicrobial Applications

The article provides an overview of the different preparation methods, antimicrobial mechanisms and antimicrobial applications of silver nanomaterials. The synthesis methods of silver nanomaterials are mainly divided into physical synthesis, chemical synthesis and biosynthesis, among which biosynthesis is widely used due to its high purity and environmentally friendly products. The antibacterial mechanism of silver nanomaterials is relatively complex, which is the result of multiple ways such as disrupting the integrity of cell membranes, interfering with protein synthesis, affecting cell signaling and inhibiting DNA replication. The antibacterial performance, as the main property of silver nanomaterials, is widely used in fields such as biomedicine, antibacterial materials and wastewater treatment.

Comparative Study and Transcriptomic Analysis on the Antifungal Mechanism of Ag Nanoparticles and Nanowires Against Trichosporon asahii.

Silver nanomaterials have been widely proven to have antifungal effects against Trichosporon asahii. However, the antifungal mechanism of silver nanomaterials with different morphologies still needs to be explored. Herein, the antifungal effect of silver nanomaterials against fungus was comparative investigated via silver nanowires and silver nanoparticles with a similar size (30 nm). The optimal antifungal concentration of silver nanowires is 6.24μg/mL, meanwhile the antifungal concentration of silver nanoparticles is 100μg/mL. The silver nanowires are significantly superior to the silver nanoparticles. SEM and TEM results indicated that both silver nanoparticles and silver nanowires showed significant morphological changes in the mycelium of the strain, compared with the control. The lower MFC value of silver nanowires indicates good sterilization effect and suitability for eradication treatment, which is slower than that of silver nanoparticles. Moreover, we also investigated the toxicological effects of silver nanoparticles and silver nanowires. We comparative studied and transcriptomic analyzed the antifungal mechanism of Ag nanoparticles and nanowires against Trichosporon asahii. The antifungal effects of silver nanowires were better than the silver nanoparticles, especially in the metabolic processes and oxidative phosphorylation. RNA sequencing results indicated that 15 key targets were selected for experimental verification to interpret the potential antifungal mechanism of Ag nanomaterials against fungus. This work proves that silver nanomaterials with different morphologies have potential applications in fungus therapy such as T. asahii.

Maximizing desalination performance in pyramid distiller: Integration of vertical wick still and enhanced phase change material by nanoparticle and emerging fins

The growing global water crisis, driven by population growth and dwindling freshwater resources, demands innovative solutions for sustainable desalination. While traditional solar still designs have been explored, their efficiency remains limited. This study introduces an advanced approach to solar distillation by integrating a modified pyramid solar still (MPSS) with two key innovations: a vertically positioned wick still (VWSS) and phase change material (PCM) enhanced with silver nanomaterials (PCM-Ag Nano). In addition, the design features two absorber plate configurations—flat and finned—coupled with emerging fins (EF) within the PCM unit to improve heat conductivity, addressing a common limitation in solar distillation systems. By incorporating PCM-Ag Nano and finned absorbers, the MPSS achieved significant improvements in desalination performance. The combined system of MPSS-FA-PCM-Ag-EF and VWSS produced a total distillate volume of 12,870 ml, representing a 154 % increase over a conventional pyramid solar still (PSS). Specifically, daily outputs of 9,270 ml, 5,050 ml, and 3,600 ml were recorded for MPSS, PSS, and VWSS, respectively. Furthermore, the enhanced MPSS configuration attained the highest thermal efficiency at 60.5 %, and the desalination cost was reduced to $0.0142/L, compared to $0.019/L for the PSS. These results underscore the potential of this novel MPSS design, which combines PCM-Ag Nano and VWSS, to deliver substantial improvements in freshwater production, thermal efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This innovative system offers a promising alternative to traditional desalination techniques, contributing to the global effort to mitigate water scarcity.

Myco-synthesis of silver and ZnO nanomaterials using endophytic fungi isolated from different locations in Egypt for sustainable development

Myco-synthesis of silver and ZnO nanomaterials using endophytic fungi isolated from different locations in Egypt for sustainable development

Biodistribution and toxic potential of silver nanoparticles when introduced to the female rat reproductive tract

The prevalence of ionic silver and silver nanomaterials in hygiene products has been increasing due to their antimicrobial activity. While numerous studies have examined the effects of nanosilver in laboratory settings, there is a limited understanding of its impact on reproductive tissues, as well as its biodistribution and toxicity upon intra-vaginal exposure. If ionic or nanosilver enters adjacent and internal tissues via intra-vaginal exposure, the overuse of hygiene products containing silver may potentially threaten woman's health. This study investigated the effects of intra-vaginal silver exposure in Female Fischer 344 rats to single and multiple doses of a commercial product containing silver, along with standard nanosilver materials. Custom tampons were developed to simulate practical usage scenarios. The analysis of tissue biodistribution revealed that epithelial penetration and redistribution of silver was observed with most administered silver eliminated in feces (8–44 %), and secondary tissues containing 1–18 % of the dose, predominantly localized in the reproductive tract. In a subsequent toxicity study, vaginal histopathology indicated a cellular inflammatory reaction (neutrophil infiltration) associated with the presence of foreign silver material upon a single administration. Interestingly, no noticeable difference in histopathology incidence was observed upon multiple exposures to silver compared to the control group. Clinical chemistry and hematology analyses following acute exposure to silver nanomaterials showed no significant abnormalities. Overall, acute vaginal exposure to silver nanomaterials and ionic silver resulted in limited silver persistence, local tissue reactivity, epithelial penetration of silver resulting in accumulation in distant organs, and elimination primarily through feces. In vitro data suggested potential alterations in normal vaginal flora. Long-term studies are still lacking in this area.

State of the Art Synthesis of Ag-ZnO-Based Nanomaterials by Atmospheric Pressure Microplasma Techniques

Atmospheric pressure microplasma is a simple, cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly procedure, which is superior to the traditional nanomaterials synthesis techniques. It generates high yields and allows for a controlled growth rate and morphology of nanomaterials. The silver (Ag) nanomaterials, with their unique physical and chemical properties, exhibit outstanding antibacterial and antifungal properties. Similarly, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials, known for their low toxicity and relatively lower cost, find wide applications in wound repair, bone healing, and antibacterial and anticancer applications. The use of core–shell nanomaterials in certain situations where some nanoparticles can cause serious harm to host tissues or organs is a testament to their potential. A benign material is coated over the core to reduce toxicity in these cases. This review compares the numerous configurations of microplasma systems used for synthesizing nanomaterials and their use in producing Ag, ZnO, and their core–shell (Ag-ZnO) nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The summary also includes the effect of control parameters, including cathode diameter, gas flow rate, precursor concentration, voltage, and current, on the nanomaterial’s characteristics and applications. In addition, it provides a research gap in the synthesis of Ag, ZnO, and core–shell nanomaterials by this technique, as well as the development and limitations of this technique and the use of these nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Effect of nanomaterials on the melting/freezing characteristics of phase-change material

A novel variant of composite phase-change material (PCM) was developed by incorporating 0.5 wt% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), copper (II) oxide (CuO) and silver (Ag) nanomaterials into myristic acid. In this formulation, myristic acid served as the foundational material, while aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, copper (II) oxide and silver were employed as supporting components. The morphology and crystalline structure of the nanomaterials were studied using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The composite PCMs were fabricated using a two-step process. The phase-change properties of the composite PCMs were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry. The nanomaterials (0.5 wt% aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, copper (II) oxide and silver) were suspended in myristic acid separately to investigate the heat-transfer performance of the composite PCMs during phase-change processes (melting and freezing). The results clearly indicated that the duration of the melting and freezing processes of the composite PCMs decreased compared with that of the pure PCM. Thus, the newly prepared composite PCMs are potential candidates for harvesting solar energy for low-temperature heating applications.

High-yield biogenic fabrication and phytochemical screening of silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) from Kaempferia parviflora rhizome extract

High-yield biogenic fabrication and phytochemical screening of silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) from Kaempferia parviflora rhizome extract

Biogenic silver nanomaterials synthesized from Ocimum sanctum leaf extract exhibiting robust antimicrobial and anticancer activities: Exploring the therapeutic potential

There is a surge in antibiotic consumption because of the emergence of resistance among microbial pathogens. In the escalating challenge of antibiotic resistance in microbial pathogens, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-mediated therapy has proven to be the most effective and alternative therapeutic strategy for bacterial infections and cancer treatment. This study aims to explore the potential of OsAgNPs derived from Ocimum sanctum's aqueous leaf extract as antimicrobial agents and anticancer drug delivery modalities. This study utilized a plant extract derived from Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) leaves to synthesize silver nanoparticles (OsAgNPs), that were characterized by FTIR, TEM, SEM, and EDX. OsAgNPs were assessed for their antibacterial and anticancer potential. TEM analysis unveiled predominantly spherical or oval-shaped OsAgNPs, ranging in size from 4 to 98 nm. The (MICs) of OsAgNPs demonstrated a range from 0.350 to 19.53 μg/ml against clinical, multidrug-resistant (MDR), and standard bacterial isolates. Dual labelling with ethidium bromide and acridine orange demonstrated that OsAgNPs induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. The OsAgNPs-treated cells showed yellow-green fluorescence in early-stage apoptotic cells and orange fluorescence in late-stage cells. Furthermore, OsAgNPs exhibited a concentration-dependent decrease in HeLa cancer cell viability, with an IC50 value of 90 μg/ml noted. The study highlights the remarkable antibacterial efficacy of OsAgNPs against clinically significant bacterial isolates, including antibiotic-resistant strains. These results position the OsAgNPs as prospective therapeutic agents with the potential to address the growing challenges posed by antibiotic resistance and cervical cancer.

Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Phase Change Materials Using Nanomaterials and its Effectiveness in Cooling Solar Cells

The latent heat storage system is considered the most promising technology in thermal energy storage (TES) because of its many advantages. This technique uses phase change material (PCM) as a TES medium. However, the low thermal conductivity (TC) of PCM is the major drawback of the system. Previous studies have shown that the addition of nanomaterials to PCM generally increases its TC. On the other hand, researchers tend to study the possibility of using enhanced PCM to cool solar cells. In fact, raising the solar cell’s operating temperature negatively impacts its efficiency. This problem is considered one of the biggest problems in solar energy systems, and researchers are still working to solve it. This paper focused on the possibility of enhancing the TC of paraffin by adding different shapes of silver nanomaterials to it (silver nanoparticles, silver nanowires and nanohybrid with silver nanoparticles and silver nanowires). Nanomaterials were added at volume fractions of 0.5% and 1%. Then, the study examined the ability to use this improved material to reduce the temperature of solar cells. We used the “Solidworks” program to create a 3D system, and then we used the “Ansys Fluent” software to simulate five cases; PV without PCM, PV with PCM, PV with PCM enhanced by nanoparticles, PV with PCM enhanced by nanowires, PV with PCM enhanced by nanohybrid (a mixture of nanoparticles and nanowires). The results show that using PCM enhanced by nanowire at a volume fraction of 0.5% gave the best results in decreasing the temperature of PV. The average temperature of PV declined by 14.9[Formula: see text]. In addition, the efficiency of PV rose by about 7.6%. Followed by using PCM enhanced by nanoparticles at a volume fraction of 1%. The average temperature of PV declined by 12.9[Formula: see text]. Moreover, the efficiency of PV rose by about 6.6%.

Sensory Nervous System‐Inspired Self‐Classifying, Decoupled, Multifunctional Sensor with Resistive‐Capacitive Operation Using Silver Nanomaterials

AbstractSelf‐classification technology has remarkable potential for autonomously discerning various stimuli without any circuit or software assistance, enabling it to realize electronic skin. In conventional self‐classification systems that rely on complex circuitry for operation, integrating the sensing and algorithm processing units inevitably leads to bulkiness in devices and bottlenecks in signal processing. In this study, the novel double‐sided structure inspired by the human nervous system is newly designed for a self‐classifying sensor (SCS) without the need for additional circuits. The sensor is layered with Ag nanocomposites that have been mechanically enhanced via interface engineering and surface treatment techniques. This structure enables the resistance‐capacitance hybrid operation, facilitating the detection and distinguishment of changes in strain, pressure, and temperature within a single device, which mimics the human sensing recognition process. Moreover, the intensity of the applied stimuli is determined by analyzing the detected signal, and precise localization of the stimuli is achieved by arraying the sensors. With its self‐classification capabilities, SCS opens promising avenues for applications in soft robotics and advanced multifunctional sensor platforms, providing a sensing system characterized by simplicity and efficiency.

Silver Nanocomposites with Enhanced Shelf-Life for Fruit and Vegetable Preservation: Mechanisms, Advances, and Prospects.

Reducing fruit and vegetable waste and maintaining quality has become challenging for everyone. Nanotechnology is a new and intriguing technology that is currently being implemented in fruit and vegetable preservation. Silver nanomaterials provide superior antibacterial qualities, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, which expands their potential applications in fruit and vegetable preservation. Silver nanomaterials include silver nanocomposites and Ag-MOF, of which silver nanocomposites are mainly composed of silver nanoparticles. Notably, not all kinds of silver nanoparticles utilized in the preservation of fruits and vegetables are thoroughly described. Therefore, the synthesis, mechanism of action, and advancements in research on silver nanocomposites for fruit and vegetable preservation were discussed in this study.

Toxicity of Sonneratia caseolaris-Derived Silver Nanomaterials and Related Histological Changes in the Dengue Vector, Aedes albopictus

Toxicity of Sonneratia caseolaris-Derived Silver Nanomaterials and Related Histological Changes in the Dengue Vector, Aedes albopictus