Tabriz University of Medical Sciences BioImpacts 2228-5652 16 1 2026 01 04 Silver nanoparticles for antibacterial and biomedical applications: Synthesis strategies, mechanistic insights, and translational perspectives 33500 33500 10.34172/bi.33500 EN Mohd Ibran Vaseem A. Ansari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8896-5063 Aditya Singh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0398-6130 Shubhrat Maheshwari Journal Article 10.34172/bi.33500 2026 02 02 2026 08 31 The potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antimicrobial resistance fighters because of their wide-spectrum antibacterial property and multi-functional biomedical applications has made them promising nanomaterials. This review critically analyzes the recent advancements in the synthesis methods of AgNPs such as physical, chemical and green methods and highlights its effect on the physicochemical properties like size, shape, stability and biocompatibility. Unlike the traditional descriptive reviews, the present study also incorporates comparative analyses of synthesis methods based on their scalability, cost, reproducibility and toxicity. In addition, the mechanism of the antibacterial properties of AgNPs, namely the pathways of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative stress, membrane disruption, inactivation of proteins, and damage to DNA are discussed in detail. Recent studies have provided quantitative information that smaller AgNPs (< 10 nm) have much greater antibacterial activity because of their greater surface reactivity and ion release. The review also examines newer biomedical applications such as wound healing, drug delivery, and anti-microbial coatings, and presents the challenges that arise with respect to toxicity, environmental issues, and clinical translation. Overall, this work offers a critical and comprehensive view of AgNPs from a synthesis property activity relationship, suggesting future research on safe and effective biomedical applications of AgNPs.