Fast dissolution of silver nanoparticles at physiological pH

Abstract While silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used in topical treatments and medical devices for humans, no smooth, safe remedy exists to remove them and avoid possible post-treatment uptake in the body. We show here that cysteamine hydrochloride (CYS∙HCl), a simple FDA and EMA approved molecule, is able to dramatically accelerate the otherwise extremely slow oxidation of citrate-coated AgNP by O2 in a wide range of pH, including the physiological 7.4 value, obtaining the halving of AgNP concentration in t