The potential of gold and silver antimicrobials: Nanotherapeutic approach and applications

Nanoparticles are promising antimicrobial agents for use and its potential as therapy for skin and soft tissue microbial infection has been investigated. Metallic ion and metal nanoparticles demonstrated efficacy against microbial pathogen, causing cutaneous and life-threatening systemic infections. Among various nanoparticles, silver and gold nanoparticles have been focused in this chapter. In recent researches, dual mechanisms of gold and silver nanoparticles were determined against pathogenic microorganisms. They are similar to cell death, but in a different pathway, including potent antimicrobial activity. The obvious difference is the presence or absence of reactive oxygen species level. Silver nanoparticles change cell death process depending on reactive oxygen species concentration, but gold nanoparticles do not change or influence. Due to nontoxicity to human and their antimicrobial effects, nanoparticles have been applied to diverse fields and possess clinical utility as a novel wound healing and antimicrobial agent for microbial infection.