Silver Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1757

Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Agriculture and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Interests: metallic nanoparticles; green synthesis; biotechnology; antimicrobials; antioxidants; waste water remediation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; medicinal plants; diabetes; silver nanoparticles (nanotechnology)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance is increasing; therefore, there is a need for novel agents to combat infection. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been gaining attention for their potential multifaceted modes of action as antibiotic agents. In addition, silver nanoparticles can be synthesised by many different strategies, with each strategy conferring particular properties to the silver nanoparticle. Evaluation of different strategies for silver nanoparticle synthesis is therefore of importance in the fight against antibiotic resistance. In addition, it is crucial that the mechanism of antibiotic action of silver nanoparticles is also evaluated so as to ascertain if the silver nanoparticles could be agents against which resistance can develop.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue which will highlight recent advances made with respect to evaluation of silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Mechanisms of action of silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents;
  2. Novel synthetic strategies for silver nanoparticles which show excellent antimicrobial potential;
  3. The role of silver nanoparticles to combat antibiotic resistance;
  4. Silver nanoparticles as agents for preventing microbial infection;
  5. Toxicological profiling and biocompatibility of silver nanoparticles.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Karen Pillay
Dr. Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • silver nanoparticles
  • antimicrobial
  • antibiotic
  • mechanism
  • resistance
  • infection prevention
  • biocompatibility
  • biofilm

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 1691 KB  
Article
Repercussions of Symbiotic Bacteria Associated with Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles on Immune Responses at Root-Knot Nematode Suppression
by Rehab Y. Ghareeb, Shawky M. Eid, Hanan Alfy and Mohamed H. Elsheikh
Microorganisms 2026, 14(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14010092 - 31 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 673
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) of the Meloidogyne genus impact various plants, including crops, fruits, and vegetables. Few chemical control options exist globally, and many nematicides are banned due to health and environmental risks. This study tested a new nematicidal agent, the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus [...] Read more.
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) of the Meloidogyne genus impact various plants, including crops, fruits, and vegetables. Few chemical control options exist globally, and many nematicides are banned due to health and environmental risks. This study tested a new nematicidal agent, the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus indica, which was molecularly identified (PV845100). Cell-free culture supernatants of Xenorhabdus spp. and their biogenic Ag-NPs were used in nematicidal assays. Meloidogyne incognita showed high mortality rates of 95.3%, 74.6%, and 72.6% after 72 h of treatment with the X. indica filtrate at three concentrations. At the same concentrations, biogenic Ag-NPs resulted in 82.0%, 90.0%, and 85.3% mortality rates, respectively. After 72 h, hatchability decreased by 53%, 74.6%, and 72.6% for the X. indica filtrate and 82.0%, 90.0%, and 85.3% for Ag-NPs. Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) revealed that Mi-Ache1 expression was lower in M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) treated with the filtrate and Ag-NPs after 72 h compared to controls. Mi-Ache2 expression was also decreased, but only slightly. Furthermore, both the X. indica filtrate and biogenic Ag-NPs were safe in human lung (WI-38) and skin (HFB4) cell lines. These findings suggest that bacterial filtrates and their biogenic Ag-NPs could serve as cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternatives to commercial nematicides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silver Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents)
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