Nanoparticle encapsulated silver carbene complexes and their antimicrobial and anticancer properties: a perspective.

This perspective discusses the uses of silver for both antimicrobial and anticancer applications. It focuses on the synthesis of silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (SCCs) and their in vitro efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacteria, as well as their antitumor properties. Finally, different polymeric nanoparticles are discussed as delivery vehicles for the encapsulation of SCCs and other therapeutic agents for use in vivo.

Synthesis and antimicrobial studies of silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes bearing a methyl benzoate substituent.

Due to the properties of silver as an antimicrobial, our research group has synthesized many different silver carbene complexes. Two new silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes derived from 4,5-dichloroimidazole and theobromine bearing methyl benzoate substituents were synthesized by in situ carbene formation using silver acetate as the base in the reaction. The new compounds were fully characterized by several methods including NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.