Melo Rebeca M, Albuquerque Gabriela M, Monte Joalen P, Pereira Giovannia A L, Pereira Goreti
Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil.
Departamento de Química & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Jun 27;18(7):970. doi: 10.3390/ph18070970.
The therapeutic use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been increasing, especially in phototherapy strategies. The plasmonic properties of AgNPs have contributed to their excellent results as phototherapeutic agents, namely for photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms. Moreover, the capacity of these nanostructures to release silver ions (Ag) and enhance the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been explored in combination with light to treat several diseases. Moreover, synthesis, functionalization, and conjugation strategies with targeting agents have been widely studied to optimize selectivity and maximize the therapeutic efficacy of these nanoplatforms. In this work, we reviewed the recent advancements (2019-2024) in the use of AgNPs for phototherapy applications, with an emphasis on evaluating therapeutic efficacy and specific targeting. According to the literature, in oncology, AgNPs have been predominately employed in PTT-based strategies, demonstrating significant tumor cell death and preservation of healthy tissues, in both and studies. Concurrently, AgNP-mediated PDT has emerged as a promising approach for the eradication of bacteria and fungi, particularly those commonly associated with antibiotic resistance. The compiled data indicate that AgNPs represent an innovative and effective therapeutic alternative, with a strong potential for clinical translation, in both cancer treatment and the management of hard-to-treat infections.
银纳米颗粒（AgNPs）的治疗用途一直在增加，尤其是在光疗策略中。AgNPs的等离子体特性使其作为光疗剂取得了优异的效果，即在光动力疗法（PDT）、光热疗法（PTT）以及微生物的光动力灭活方面。此外，这些纳米结构释放银离子（Ag）和增强活性氧（ROS）生成的能力已与光联合用于治疗多种疾病。而且，与靶向剂的合成、功能化和缀合策略已被广泛研究，以优化这些纳米平台的选择性并最大化其治疗效果。在这项工作中，我们回顾了2019年至2024年期间AgNPs在光疗应用中的最新进展，重点是评估治疗效果和特异性靶向。根据文献，在肿瘤学中，AgNPs主要用于基于PTT的策略，在体内和体外研究中均显示出显著的肿瘤细胞死亡以及对健康组织的保护。同时，AgNP介导的PDT已成为根除细菌和真菌的一种有前景的方法，特别是那些通常与抗生素耐药性相关的细菌和真菌。汇总的数据表明，AgNPs在癌症治疗和难治性感染的管理方面代表了一种创新且有效的治疗选择，具有很强的临床转化潜力。
