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Nanosilver: application and novel aspects of toxicology

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Abstract

Nanomaterials are a challenge to toxicology. The high diversity of novel materials and products will require extensive expertize for evaluation and regulatory efforts. Nanomaterials are of substantial scientific and economic potential. Here, we will focus on nanosilver, a material not only with medical applications, but a rapidly increasing use in surprisingly many products. Consequently, toxicological evaluation has to cover an increasing range of complex topics. The toxicology of nanosilver is advancing rapidly; regulatory efforts by Federal Drug Agency and European Environment Protection Agencies are substantial. Current toxicological data, ranging from in vitro studies with cell lines to rodent experiments and ecological evaluation, are numerous, and many groups are providing continuously new data. However, standard classification based on nanosize only is neglecting nanoshape, which adds another level of complexity to the analysis of biological effects. A surprising neglect in nanosilver toxicology so far is the analysis of effects of nanosilver on amyloidosis. Amyloid diseases are widespread in humans and a severe health hazard. The known potential of silver to stimulate amyloidosis in rodents will require a timely and balanced evaluation of nanosilvers.

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Abbreviations

ADME:

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

Ag+ :

Silver ion

ALS:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BfR:

Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

CNS:

Central nervous system

CVO:

Cerebroventricular organ

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

EPA:

European Environment Protection Agencies

EPO:

European Patent Office

PD:

Parkinson’s disease

US-FDA:

Federal Drug Agency United States of America

NOAEL:

No observed adverse effect level

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by a grant of the Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Division of Immunopathology of the Nervous System, Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University of Tuebingen, Calwer Str. 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany

    Jan K. Schluesener & Hermann J. Schluesener

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Correspondence to Jan K. Schluesener.

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Schluesener, J.K., Schluesener, H.J. Nanosilver: application and novel aspects of toxicology. Arch Toxicol 87, 569–576 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-012-1007-z

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