Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles in Diabetes: In Vivo Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Future Perspectives: A Review

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a multifactorial metabolic condition characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, causes serious systemic complications. Although conventional treatment modalities are widely used, their effectiveness in diabetes management is often limited by side effects and insufficient targeting of underlying pathological processes. This review examines the in vivo mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and future perspectives of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in diabetes management. Biogenic AgNPs, particularly those synthesized using plant or microbial systems, have gained increasing interest due to their improved biocompatibility and multifunctional biological properties. In vivo studies indicate that these nanomaterials regulate glycemic levels, preserve pancreatic cell integrity, modulate lipid metabolism, and attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress through signaling pathways involving reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐B), and phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt). Additionally, these nanosystems can function as carriers for targeted drug delivery, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes. However, differences in synthesis methods, properties, and study results make it difficult to compare them. Moreover, insufficient results regarding safety and efficacy have been reported for these nanoparticles. However, several challenges have to be addressed for the safe and effective use of these nanoparticles in diabetes management.