Antimicrobial

Silver has long been recognized as a prophylactic/antibiotic. Catholic parishes began using silver chalices to prevent disease transmission between parishioners in the 1300's, and pioneers of the American West had a tradition of placing a silver dollar in a jug of milk to keep it fresh without refrigeration.


Silver kills many strains of pathogens, including fungi, flu viruses, and bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. Unlike organic antimicrobials, silver is thermally stable, functions effectively in almost any environment and lasts significantly longer. As well as killing pathogens, silver has an antiinflammatory effect, enhances wound healing, and is particularly effective at eliminating biologically-induced odors.

Benefits of nanotechnology

Nanotechnology offers two primary benefits to the antimicrobial application of silver. First, adjustment of particle size and shape allows the user to control the antimicrobial activity, duration of activity of the material, and to some extent, material cost. For example, the large aspect ratio of a Blue Nano silver nanowire gives it a 16X greater exposed surface area than a silver sphere of the same mass. This means that our wires create much greater antimicrobial functionality than similar-sized nanoparticles for a given amount of material.


Second, the unique structural properties of nanomaterials allow for them to be configured in a flat sheet, preventing dispersion (sloughing) into open wounds or other sensitive areas. Comparative studies have consistently shown that silver nanomaterials have higher antibacterial potency than free silver ions, and randomized clinical trials have shown that silver nanomaterials allow faster regeneration of the outer layer of skin of burn victims than silver sulfadiazine. Silver nanoparticles do not cause rashes and other hypersensitivity reactions sometimes associated with silver sulfadiazines.

Applications

Current applications of silver nanomaterials as antimicrobials include coatings for:

  • Footwear
  • Computer keyboards
  • cell phones
  • faucet handles
  • antibacterial soaps
  • water filters
  • disinfectant sprays
  • air conditioning and heating units
  • hospital face masks
  • hospital floor tile
  • surgical instruments and trays
  • wound dressings

Blue Nano silver nanomaterials are what is termed a "low ion release" variety of silver; meaning that they dissolve slowly in water relative to other types of silver. Our silver is therefore well-suited to applications requiring long-lasting antimicrobial characteristics and/or water-based cleaning.


Interested in more information? Please contact us.