Review articleExposure, tissue biodistribution, and biotransformation of nanosilver

- The biouptake and biodistribution of nanosilver vary with exposure scenarios.
- Nanosilver can penetrate across the physiological vascular barriers.
- The bioavailability of nanosilver is mediated by the characteristics of the particles and the ambient condition.

With the wide application of nanosilver or silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a diverse spectrum of fields, the environmental exposure of this kind of nanomaterial has become inevitable. Lots of attention was paid to its potential adverse effects based on multiple experimental models; nevertheless, the translocation, distribution, and possible biotransformation of nanosilver in organisms are the essential prerequisites for its biological effects. This work focused on this point and provided a comprehensive review of the behavior of nanosilver in multiple mammals, in view of its administration routes, biouptake, translocation, biodistribution, bioaccumulation, biotransformation, elimination, and retention. The regulatory factors for the bioavailability of nanosilver included the characteristics of the nanoparticle per se and the ambient condition. This review brings insights on the biological processes of nanosilver and may help explain its potential effects on mammals, including human beings.

128