Nanosilver--the burgeoning therapeutic molecule and its green synthesis

Nanotechnology is a field that is burgeoning day by day, making an impact in all spheres of human life. Biological methods of synthesis have paved way for the "greener synthesis" of nanoparticles and these have proven to be better methods due to slower kinetics, they offer better manipulation and control over crystal growth and their stabilization. This has motivated an upsurge in research on the synthesis routes that allow better control of shape and size for various nanotechnological applications. Nanosilver has developed as a potent antibacterial, antifungal, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agent. The recent advancement in the field includes the enzymatic method of synthesis suggesting enzymes to be responsible for the nanoparticle formation. The biomedical applications of silver nanoparticle can be effective by the use of biologically synthesized nanoparticles which minimize the factors such as toxicity and cost and are found to be exceptionally stable. The targeting of cancer cells using silver nanoparticles has proven to be effective, but neither the exact mechanism of action nor the modes of activation of the downstream signaling molecules have been revealed yet. The review illustrates a probable signaling pathway and mechanism by which silver nanoparticles target the cancer cells. The current review also examines the historical background of nanoparticles, role of silver nanoparticles in various biomedical applications and also focusing on better methods of the synthesis of nanoparticles.