Antimicrobial Effect of Metallic and Semiconductor Nanoparticles

This review summarizes the experimental findings of the effect of noble metals and wide bandgap semiconductor nanoparticles on microorganisms in dark conditions and during nanoparticle excitation using light. Contemporary views on the biochemical mechanisms silver nanoparticles (SNs) act on bacteria as compared to the action of silver ions are considered. Photothermal and photocatalytic antimicrobial effects of metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles are discussed.