Next-Gen Tissue Engineering: A Comparative Review of the Antibacterial and Regenerative Roles of Silver, Gold, and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract: Silver (Ag), gold (Au), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant attention in tissue engineering due to their unique properties, which enhance the functionality of scaffolds and regenerative therapies. These NPs offer several key benefits, including antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and the ability to stimulate osteogenesis and tissue regeneration. This review evaluates the performance of these three NPs across various tissue engineering applications, including bone, skin, cardiac, and neural tissue regeneration. Ag NPs are highly valued for their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and their role in infection control during tissue healing, though cytotoxicity at higher concentrations remains a concern. Au NPs stand out for their exceptional electrical conductivity and biocompatibility, making them ideal for cardiac and neural tissue regeneration. Additionally, they support bone regeneration through enhanced scaffold properties. ZnO NPs exhibit strong osteogenic potential and antimicrobial activity, rendering them highly effective in bone tissue engineering; however, careful dose optimization is necessary to prevent cytotoxicity. Despite the individual advantages of each nanoparticle, their combined application or tailored usage within scaffold systems holds great promise for advancing tissue regeneration strategies. This review also discusses the challenges and opportunities for further optimizing NPs for clinical applications, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of their interactions within biological systems. Lay Summary: Ag, Au, and ZnO NPs are tiny particles that show great promise in helping repair and regenerate damaged tissues. These nanoparticles are being studied in tissue engineering because they can improve healing, fight infections, and support the growth of new bone, skin, heart, and nerve tissues. AgNPs are known for their strong ability to kill bacteria, which helps prevent infections during healing. However, high amounts can be harmful to cells. AuNPs are highly compatible with the body and excellent for repairing heart and nerve tissues due to their electrical properties. They also help strengthen bone repair materials. ZnONPs promote bone growth and fight microbes, making them useful in bone repair, but their dosage must be carefully controlled to avoid toxicity. While each nanoparticle has unique benefits, combining them or using them in specially designed scaffolds could lead to even better tissue repair strategies. However, more research is needed to fully understand how they interact with the body and how to optimize their use in medical treatments. This review highlights both the potential and challenges of using these nanoparticles in future therapies.