Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial and Anticancer Applications

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles harnesses biological resources such as plant extracts, algae and microbial cultures to reduce silver ions under mild, eco-friendly conditions. Phytochemicals—flavonoids, phenolics and alkaloids—serve simultaneously as reducing and stabilising agents, enabling precise control over particle size, shape and surface chemistry without harsh reagents or high energy inputs. Resulting silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity by disrupting microbial cell membranes, generating reactive oxygen species and inhibiting biofilm formation. In oncology, AgNPs induce programmed cell death through mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase activation and oxidative stress, while limiting off-target toxicity through surface capping and selective uptake. Advances in nanometre-scale engineering have yielded spherical, triangular and rod-shaped AgNPs with tunable surface plasmon resonance and increased colloidal stability, paving the way for applications in wound dressings, coatings for medical devices, targeted drug delivery and adjuvant cancer therapies. Global efforts now focus on scale-up of green processes, mechanistic elucidation of anticancer pathways and rigorous in vivo validation to address antimicrobial resistance and improve chemotherapeutic outcomes.

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Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial and Anticancer Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in green synthesis of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial and anticancer applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Green synthesis: Use of biological extracts or organisms to convert metal ions into nanoparticles under environmentally benign conditions.

Surface plasmon resonance: Optical phenomenon arising from collective electron vibrations on a nanoparticle’s surface, yielding a characteristic absorption peak.

Reactive oxygen species: Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen capable of damaging cellular components and inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving regulated biochemical events and morphological changes.

Capping agent: Molecule that adheres to nanoparticle surfaces to stabilise them and prevent aggregation.

References

1. Antitumor effect of algae silver nanoparticles on human triple negative breast cancer cells. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2023).
2. Bio-Fabricated Silver Nanoparticles from the Leaf Extract of the Poisonous Plant, Holigarna arnottiana: Assessment of Antimicrobial, Antimitotic, Anticancer, and Radical-Scavenging Properties. Pharmaceutics (2023).
3. “Exploring the Green Science of Silver Nanoparticles: The Process of Nano-scale Sculpting”. Plasmonics (2025).
4. Global Research Trends and Recent Advances in Medicinal Plant-Synthesized Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment. Plants (2024).