This review provides an idea of the antimicrobial properties silver possesses as a nanoparticle, the various methods employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles, and an overview of their applications in the medical field and also discusses the toxicity of silver nanoparticles. The focus is on the characteristics of silver nanoparticles which make them excellent candidates for use in the medical field besides delving into the unique ability of certain biological systems to synthesize silver nanoparticles and also looks at the chances of these particles to induce toxicity in humans and the environment as a whole.