Chen X, Schluesener H J
Institute of Brain Research, University of Tuebingen Calwer Str. 3, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Toxicol Lett. 2008 Jan 4;176(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2007.10.004. Epub 2007 Oct 16.
Nanotechnology is a most promising field for generating new applications in medicine. However, only few nanoproducts are currently in use for medical purposes. A most prominent nanoproduct is nanosilver. Nanosilver particles are generally smaller than 100nm and contain 20-15,000 silver atoms. At nanoscale, silver exhibits remarkably unusual physical, chemical and biological properties. Due to its strong antibacterial activity, nanosilver coatings are used on various textiles but as well as coatings on certain implants. Further, nanosilver is used for treatment of wounds and burns or as a contraceptive and marketed as a water disinfectant and room spray. Thus, use of nanosilver is becoming more and more widespread in medicine and related applications and due to increasing exposure toxicological and environmental issues need to be raised. In sharp contrast to the attention paid to new applications of nanosilver, few studies provide only scant insights into the interaction of nanosilver particle with the human body after entering via different portals. Biodistribution, organ accumulation, degradation, possible adverse effects and toxicity are only slowly recognized and this review is focusing on major questions associated with the increased medical use of nanosilver and related nanomaterials.
纳米技术是医学领域中一个极具潜力的新兴应用领域。然而，目前仅有少数纳米产品用于医疗目的。其中最突出的纳米产品是纳米银。纳米银颗粒通常小于100纳米，包含20至15000个银原子。在纳米尺度下，银展现出显著不同寻常的物理、化学和生物学特性。由于其强大的抗菌活性，纳米银涂层被应用于各种纺织品以及某些植入物的涂层。此外，纳米银还用于伤口和烧伤的治疗，或作为避孕药，并作为水消毒剂和室内喷雾剂进行销售。因此，纳米银在医学及相关应用中的使用越来越广泛，鉴于其暴露量的增加，毒理学和环境问题也随之产生。与对纳米银新应用的关注形成鲜明对比的是，很少有研究能深入了解纳米银颗粒通过不同途径进入人体后的相互作用。生物分布、器官积累、降解、可能的不良反应和毒性等问题才刚刚开始被认识，而本综述将聚焦于与纳米银及相关纳米材料在医学上的广泛应用相关的主要问题。
