Silver nanoparticles in wound therapy and tissue regeneration

The process of wound healing is pretty complex, with the involvement of various systemic and local factors influencing it. It is very important to ensure that the wound heals in time, especially when it comes to chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers. Silver being popular for its antimicrobial properties, had the potential for healing wounds, but the inactivation of silver ions posed a major problem. To overcome this drawback, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been employed in wound healing and tissue regeneration. The focus of this book chapter is mainly on the utilization of AgNPs in the field of wound healing and tissue regeneration. AgNPs possessed broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Many case studies showed that AgNPs could speed up the healing process in many different types of wounds and facilitate tissue regeneration, but the toxicity associated with these nanoparticles should not be ignored in such applications to facilitate proper wound healing and ensure the safety of the patients.