ABSTRACT
Biomaterial-associated infections (BAI) occur because of bacterial contamination and formation of biofilms. This chapter focuses on the physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and their specific actions to bacterial and mammalian cells, and discusses how to suppress their side effects. It is believed that Ag NPs are more reactive than bulk metallic forms because of the more active sites that resulted from high specific surface; thus, Ag NPs are widely explored for antimicrobial applications. Silver is well known as an antimicrobial material. Generally, it is considered to be a relatively low toxic threat to humans; hence, silver was used in applications such as wound dressings, sutures, protheses and catheters. Nonetheless, in some forms and concentrations, silver can be toxic to mammalian cells. Nanomaterials have similar sizes to cellular components or proteins and thus may bypass the biological barriers and do harm to living cells, tissues and organs.
