Nano Silver coated materials are an increasingly popular choice for fighting germ growth. The antimicrobial properties of nano silver can be used to keep food fresh, as a natural antibiotic preventing disease transmission in hospitals, or as a way to prevent bacterial odors around the home.
Although nano silver’s antimicrobial properties have long been known, it is only recently that science has endeavored to fully understand how they work. A new study, which used scanning transmission electron miocroscopy, was able to take a close look at what happens when nano silver and ionic silver are fighting pathogens.
For the full nano silver/ionic silver study, click here.
The most important conclusion: ionic silver and nano silver do not behave the same way.
Although both have natural antibacterial properties, ionic silver forms silver nanocrystals, attaching and reacting differently than nano silver.
The difference is important since colloidal silver is not always clearly labeled as either nano silver (tiny, neutral silver particles) or ionic silver (cheaper silver particles that are charged). Now that science confirms nano silver and ionic silver behave differently at the cellular level, there is legitimate concern to the consumer as to which product they are getting.
As far as how the natural antimicrobial effects work, this study is just one step towards understanding nano silver. (If you’re interested in how germs are killed, here is a scientific article about antifungal drug mechanisms). Now that technology allows nano materials like nano silver to be observed at the level of individual atoms and compounds, expect to see more research into the natural antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral mechanisms of nano silver.
What interests you with regard to how nano silver works and the difference between nano silver and ionic silver?
