Effect of Size, Shape and Surface Functionalization on the Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most investigated antibacterial agents against multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. They can lead to cellular death by means of different mechanisms, damaging several cell compartments, from the external membrane, to enzymes, DNA and proteins; this simultaneous attack amplifies the toxic effect on bacteria with respect to traditional antibiotics. The effectiveness of AgNPs against MDR bacteria is strongly correlated with their chemical and morphological properties, which influence the pathways involved in cellular damage. In this review, AgNPs' size, shape and modification by functional groups or other materials are reported, both to investigate the different synthetic pathways correlated with nanoparticles' modifications and to evaluate the related effect on their antibacterial activity. Indeed, understanding the synthetic conditions for obtaining performing antibacterial AgNPs could help to tailor new and improved silver-based agents to combat multidrug resistance.

Automated summary

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively studied antibacterial agents against multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens, capable of causing cellular death through various mechanisms, targeting different cell compartments. The effectiveness of AgNPs against MDR bacteria is influenced by their chemical and morphological properties, which affect the related cellular damage pathways. This review focuses on the size, shape, and modifications of AgNPs to explore synthetic pathways and evaluate their impact on antibacterial activity, aiming to develop new and improved silver-based agents to combat multidrug resistance.