Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 4, Issue 3 , Pages 241-251, September 2008

Anti-inflammatory activity of nanocrystalline silver in a porcine contact dermatitis model

  • Patricia L. Nadworny, BSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • ,
  • JianFei Wang, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • ,
  • Edward E. Tredget, MD, MSc, FRCSC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • ,
  • Robert E. Burrell, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. 1101 Research Transition Facility, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2V2.

Received 24 August 2007; accepted 13 April 2008. published online 12 June 2008.

Abstract 

The anti-inflammatory activity of nanocrystalline silver was examined using a porcine model of contact dermatitis. Inflammation was induced with dinitrochlorobenzene and then treated daily with nanocrystalline silver dressings, 0.5% silver nitrate, or saline. Erythema, edema, and histological data showed that nanocrystalline silver-treated pigs had near-normal skin after 72 hours, while other treatment groups remained inflamed. The decreased inflammation in the nanocrystalline silver-treated group was associated with increased inflammatory cell apoptosis, a decreased expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and decreased gelatinase activity. Silver nitrate treatments induced apoptosis in all cell types, including keratinocytes, resulting in delayed wound healing. These results demonstrate that nanocrystalline silver had a direct anti-inflammatory effect in the porcine contact dermatitis model that improved the overall outcome of the healing process. These data offer support that a species of silver (e.g., Ag0) that is uniquely associated with nanocrystalline silver may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity and improvement in healing.

Key words: Anti-inflammatory, Nanocrystalline, Silver, Porcine, Contact dermatitis

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 This research was supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Canada Research Chair (R.B.); Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Firefighter Burns Trust Fund of the University of Alberta (E.E.T.); NSERC, Alberta Ingenuity Fund, and Killam Memorial Scholarship (P.L.N.).

PII: S1549-9634(08)00045-2

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2008.04.006

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 4, Issue 3 , Pages 241-251, September 2008

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