ArticleInternational journal of nanomedicine2021
Are Smaller Nanoparticles Always Better? Understanding the Biological Effect of Size-Dependent Silver Nanoparticle Aggregation Under Biorelevant Conditions.
Article in International journal of nanomedicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 60 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
60 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 167 citations in OpenAlex.
- Nanoformulations in epilepsy therapy - a systematic review of emerging strategies in status epilepticus.Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Applications of Bioinorganic Nano-Based Delivery Systems-Diagnostics and Therapeutics.Drug development research · 2026Review
- Meroterpenoids and Fucoxanthin from the Brown SeaweedMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Sustainable zein-based bioplastic films reinforced with silver nanoparticle-embedded casein nanocomposites for active fruit packaging: characterization and functional assessment.Food chemistry: X · 2026Article
- Matrix-Dependent Stability and Antibacterial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles: A Comparative Study of Anionic Carbopol vs. Non-Ionic Pluronic Hydrogels.Pharmaceutics · 2026Article
- Zone of inhibition prediction in silver nanoparticle antimicrobial activity via physics-guided liquid state machine.Biomaterials and biosystems · 2026Article
- Selenium nanoparticles as a biological safe endodontic irrigant improving root canal sealing.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Antimicrobial Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites Modified by Nanoparticles Produced by Green Chemistry.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Nanosilver eye patch for ocular surface trauma: a prospective randomised trial and review of the literature.International journal of ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Equal nano-characteristics, unequal harm: the chemical composition of noble metal nanoparticles as the main factor of cytotoxicity.Frontiers in toxicology · 2026Article
- Assessing cytotoxic and antibacterial effects of high dispersion-stable sub-5 nm silver particles fabricated by ionic liquid-mediated electrochemical synthesis.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026Article
- Environmental applications of silver nanoparticles: state-of-the-art review and emerging trends.Beilstein journal of nanotechnology · 2026Review
- Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a Double-Edged Sword: Synthesis, Factors Affecting, Mechanisms of Toxicity and Anticancer Potentials-An Updated Review till March 2025.Biological trace element research · 2026Review
- Biogenic Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized From Agro-Waste: Green Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and Potential for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications.Nanotechnology, science and applications · 2026Article
- Assessment of MgO, ZnO, chitosan hydroxyapatite and silver hydroxyapatite nanoparticles against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative Egyptian clinical isolates: a combined in-silico and in-vitro study.BMC microbiology · 2025Article
- Fabrication of Antibacterial and Functional Films from Starch-Polyvinylpyrrolidone Composite Using Plasma Treatment and Silver Nanoparticles.ACS omega · 2025Article
- Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Improved biosynthesis and characteristics of silver nanoparticles using marine endophytic fungi exposed to hypo-osmotic stress.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Toxicological Effects of Silver-Modified Bentonite Nanocomposites on Microalgae: Impact on Cell Growth, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Gene Expression.Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The Impact of Silver Nanoparticles' Size on Biofilm Eradication.International dental journal · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most commonly investigated nanomaterials, especially due to their biomedical applications. However, their excellent cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity is often compromised in biological media due to nanoparticle aggregation. In this work, the aggregation behavior and the related biological activity of three different samples of citrate capped silver nanoparticles, with mean diameters of 10, 20, and 50 nm, respectively, were examined.
methodsFollowing nanoparticle synthesis and characterization with transmission electron microscopy, their aggregation behavior under various pH values, NaCl, glucose, and glutamine concentrations, furthermore in cell culture medium components such as Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and fetal bovine serum, was assessed through dynamic light scattering and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy.
resultsThe results indicated that acidic pH and physiological electrolyte content universally induce micron-scale aggregation, which can be mediated by biomolecular corona formation. Remarkably, larger particles demonstrated higher resistance against external influences than smaller counterparts. In vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial assays were performed by treating cells with nanoparticulate aggregates in differing stages of aggregation.
conclusionOur results revealed a profound association between colloidal stability and toxicity of AgNPs, as extreme aggregation led to the complete loss of biological activity. The higher degree of aggregation resistance observed for larger particles had a significant impact on the in vitro toxicity, since such samples retained more of their activity against microbes and mammalian cells. These findings lead to the conclusion that aiming for the smallest possible nanoparticles might not be the best course of action, despite the general standpoint of the relevant literature.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.