ABSTRACT

Background

Enthusiasm for the use of metal nanoparticles in human and veterinary medicine is high. Many articles describe the effects of metal nanoparticles on microbes in vitro, and a smaller number of articles describe effects on the immune system, which is the focus of this review.

Methods

Articles were retrieved by performing literature searches in Medline, of the National Institute of Medicine, as well as via Google Scholar.

Results

In vitro studies show that metal nanoparticles have antimicrobial effects. Some metal nanoparticles augment innate host immune defenses, such as endogenous antimicrobial peptides, and nitric oxide. Metal nanoparticles may also function as vaccine adjuvants. Metal nanoparticles can migrate to locations distant from the site of administration, however, requiring careful monitoring for toxicity.

Conclusions

Metal nanoparticles show a great deal of potential as immunomodulators, as well as direct antimicrobial effects. Before metal particles can be adopted as therapies; however, more studies are needed to determine how nanoparticles migrate though the body and on possible adverse effects.

中文翻译：

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感染和免疫中的金属纳米粒子。

摘要

背景

人们对金属纳米粒子在人类和兽医学中的应用充满热情。许多文章描述了金属纳米粒子对体外微生物的影响，少数文章描述了对免疫系统的影响，这是本综述的重点。

方法

文章是通过在美国国家医学研究所的 Medline 中以及通过 Google Scholar 进行文献搜索来检索的。

结果

体外研究表明，金属纳米颗粒具有抗菌作用。一些金属纳米粒子增强先天宿主免疫防御，例如内源性抗菌肽和一氧化氮。金属纳米颗粒也可用作疫苗佐剂。金属纳米粒子可以迁移到远离给药部位的位置，但是，需要仔细监测毒性。

结论

金属纳米颗粒显示出作为免疫调节剂的巨大潜力，以及直接的抗菌作用。在金属颗粒被用作治疗之前；然而，还需要更多的研究来确定纳米粒子如何在体内迁移以及可能产生的不利影响。