The use of silver as an “antimicrobial agent” is not new and has been utilised in various forms for thousands of years. Even Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician known as the father of modern medicine, wrote that silver has beneficial, anti-disease properties. Over the past few decades it has been introduced into various new applications, including the treatment of water, medical uses such as bandages, as well as to reduce the smell of sweat in sports shirts and socks.
Nano silver works only on single cell bacteria and acts in 2 ways. It acts as a catalyst for oxidation, denaturating the disulfide bonds, thereby preventing the bacteria from exerting any control on exposure to oxidation reactions. It can also generate reactive oxygen in water which can in turn break down the cell wall membranes of the bacteria in the same way as a strong oxidant (such as hydrogen peroxide). In both mechanisms the silver acts purely as a catalyst and, as such, is in theory long lasting and safe. Although its mechanisms as an antibacterial are well documented, its antiprotozoal and antiviral mechanisms are not well understood.
This research aims to determine the antimicrobial and antiviral efficiency of silver in this new SFP pad application as well as to investigate any effects of its long-term usage.
- University of Surrey, Centre for Environmental Health
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University of Surrey’s Comments about Silver
The use of silver as an “antimicrobial agent” is not new and has been utilised in various forms for thousands of years. Even Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician known as the father of modern medicine, wrote that silver has beneficial, anti-disease properties. Over the past few decades it has been introduced into various new applications, including the treatment of water, medical uses such as bandages, as well as to reduce the smell of sweat in sports shirts and socks.
Nano silver works only on single cell bacteria and acts in 2 ways. It acts as a catalyst for oxidation, denaturating the disulfide bonds, thereby preventing the bacteria from exerting any control on exposure to oxidation reactions. It can also generate reactive oxygen in water which can in turn break down the cell wall membranes of the bacteria in the same way as a strong oxidant (such as hydrogen peroxide). In both mechanisms the silver acts purely as a catalyst and, as such, is in theory long lasting and safe. Although its mechanisms as an antibacterial are well documented, its antiprotozoal and antiviral mechanisms are not well understood.
This research aims to determine the antimicrobial and antiviral efficiency of silver in this new SFP pad application as well as to investigate any effects of its long-term usage.
- University of Surrey, Centre for Environmental Health