Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate, the silver-containing algi-
nate i bers can maintain their white physical appearances while providing
a sustained release of silver ions when in contact with wound exudates.
Test results have proven that these i bers are highly ef ective against
bacteria.
Nanoparticles synthesized by the various methods have been used in
diverse
in vitro
diagnostic applications [76-93]. Most all of the metallic
nanoparticles, including gold and silver nanoparticles, have been found
to have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against human and ani-
mal pathogens [94-113]. However there is still a lot of room for research.
Particularly, recent i ndings indicate that the compound delays the wound-
healing process and that silver may have serious cytotoxic activity on
various host cells. It is necessary to examine all available evidence about
ef ects, ot en contradictory, of silver on wound infection control and on
wound healing when trying to determine the practical therapeutic balance
between antimicrobial activity and cellular toxicity [114-132]. h e ulti-
mate goal remains the choice of a product with a superior proi le of infec-
tion control over host cell cytotoxicity.
2.6 Conclusion
Owing to their unique properties,
metallic
nanoparticles i nd wide-range applica-
tions, from medicine and pharmaceutics to electronic industry, optics, etc. P
resently
there is great interest for the polymer-metallic nanoparticles systems in the
i eld of biomedical applications based on the need for a system with a high
antibacterial and antiviral activity against bacteria and viruses on con-
tact, without the release of toxic biocides. h is chapter reports on obtain-
ing metallic nanoparticles such as platinium, gold and silver. It focuses on
obtaining silver nanoparticles, their incorporation within various polymer
materials, a physiochemical and biological property of such obtained sys-
tems, as well as their application as medical devices.
Acknowledgements
M.S. acknowledges the support from the Ministry of Education, Science
and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, under Grant
No. III45004: Molecular designing of nanoparticles with controlled mor-
phological and physicochemical characteristics and functional materials
based on them.
