Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University , Cardiff , UK.
Crit Rev Microbiol. 2013 Nov;39(4):373-83. doi: 10.3109/1040841X.2012.713323. Epub 2012 Aug 28.
Silver has been used for centuries. Today, silver and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in a wide range of healthcare, food industry, domiciliary applications, and are commonly found in hard surface materials and textiles. Such an extensive use raises questions about its safety, environmental toxicity and the risks associated with microbial resistance and cross-resistance. If the mechanisms of antimicrobial action of ionic silver (Ag+) have been studied, there is little understanding of AgNPs interactions with microorganisms. There have been excellent reviews on the bacterial resistance mechanisms to silver, but there is a paucity of information on resistance to AgNPs. Silver toxicity and accumulation in the environment has been studied and there is a better understanding of silver concentration and species in different environmental compartments. However, owing to the increased applications of silver and AgNPs, questions remain about the presence and consequences of AgNPs in the environment. This review provides an historical perspective of silver usage, an overview of applications, and combined information of microbial resistance and toxicity. Owing the evidence provided in this review, a call for a better understanding and control of silver usage, and for tighter regulations of silver and AgNPs usage is proposed.
银已被使用了数个世纪。如今，银和银纳米粒子（AgNPs）被广泛应用于医疗保健、食品工业、家庭应用等领域，并且常见于硬表面材料和纺织品中。如此广泛的使用引发了人们对其安全性、环境毒性以及与微生物耐药性和交叉耐药性相关的风险的关注。虽然已经研究了离子银（Ag+）的抗菌作用机制，但对于 AgNPs 与微生物的相互作用，我们的了解甚少。已经有很多关于细菌对银的耐药机制的优秀综述，但对于 AgNPs 的耐药性，信息却很少。银的毒性及其在环境中的积累已经得到了研究，我们对不同环境成分中的银浓度和种类有了更好的了解。然而，由于银和 AgNPs 的应用日益增多，关于 AgNPs 在环境中的存在和影响的问题仍然存在。本综述提供了银使用的历史背景、应用概述，以及微生物耐药性和毒性的综合信息。鉴于本综述提供的证据，我们呼吁更好地了解和控制银的使用，并对银和 AgNPs 的使用进行更严格的监管。
