Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology

2012 Edition
| Editors: Bharat Bhushan

In Vitro and In Vivo Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9751-4_331
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Synonyms

 Nanoparticles;  Silver (Ag);  Toxicity

Definition

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-nps): Any shaped particle that has silver as its majority constituent and one dimension ranging from 1 to 100 nm; its surface may be modified with intricate or conjugated complexes.

Introduction

Nanotechnology has enabled the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (Ag-nps) into hundreds of products used as antimicrobial agents in both professional and personal healthcare fields. The quantity of Ag-nps produced annually is rapidly increasing and fueled by the growing markets for products that incorporate them. This increased usage will lead to the accumulation of Ag-nps in the air, water, soil, and within organisms. Additionally, possible human and environmental toxicological risks associated with Ag-nps exposure may arise during material fabrication, handling, usage, and waste disposal. For example, up to 100% of the Ag-nps incorporated into socks to kill the bacteria associated with foot odor may leak...

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Meghan E. Samberg
    • 1
  • Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere
    • 1
  1. 1.Center for Chemical Toxicological Research and PharmacokineticsNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighUSA