MonoFoil® Technology vs. Silver Based Antimicrobials

• Durable vs. Leaching: mode of action

• Microbe adaptation and bioaccumulation: University studies

• Toxicity of silver• Nano-silver: many questions

remain• Impact of silver on the

environment: independent studies

• Conclusion and summary

Micropolymer network is:• Resistant to all organic solvents• Resistant to strong acids and bases• Does not leach in water, salt, or sweat solutions• Thermally stable to 257 Degrees C• Durable to over 100 launderings• Lasts the life of the goods

MonoFoil® Technology : Polymeric Antimicrobial Bonded to Surface

Bonded = No Release

LEACHING ANTIMICROBIALS

Diffuse from the surface or product to react with the microbe

• Leach or migrate off the product• Are consumed by microorganisms• Chemically interrupt (poison)

the cell• Transfers to the skin• Transfers to the environment• Able to cause microbial

adaptation

Leaching Technology

Antimicrobials 101

Facts About Silver

1. Silver is NOT a trace metal in the human body and fulfills no functional or physiological value.

2. Silver metal is INERT but many of the silver products offered as antimicrobials are in the ionic form, which is TOXIC.

3. Silver ions readily combine with proteins and are inactivated, and thereby are not available for microbial control.

4. Silver ions react with all kinds of non-target organisms.

5. Silver is a heavy metal and is a serious and persistent environmental threat.

6. In its ionic form, this heavy metal enters the food chain by adsorption and ingestion.

Silver 101

Leach = Release

“A Release of Silver on Demand”

“The maximum release rate ensures continuous

antimicrobial action.”

“Silver releases ions spontaneously.”

Silver Providers “Release”

Is Silver a non-migrating technology?

Claim: No Zone of Inhibition is observed, so, therefore, silver is a non-migrating technology?

NO ZOI: Inability of silver to diffuse through a nutrient agar due to adsorption

This is not a true indication of non-migrating behavior

Is Silver a non-migrating technology?

ASTM E2149-01 antibacterial test

If migrating antimicrobials are present, residual activity would be detected after filtering the solution.

Samples: Test on 100% cotton socks1. Untreated socks2. Socks treated with silver technology3. Socks treated with triclosan ( a migrating

antimicrobial)4. Socks treated with MonoFoil

Results after filtering the microbial solutions through non-reactive media.

Is Silver a non-migrating technology?

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

100% Cotton Samples

FABRIC ASTM E2149-

01 DSF

ZOI ASTM 147 ZOI

SolutionASTM E2149-

01 Filtration

ZOIASTM 147 ZOI

Untreated Standard 0% No 0% No

Silver Treated 99.9% No 99.6% No

Triclosan Treated 99.5% Yes 99.5% Yes

Treated

99.9% No 0% No

Conclusion: Triclosan and silver are migrating technologies!

Migrating Technologies

Diffuse from the product to come in contact with the microbe:

Leach or migrate out of the product into the environment

Are consumed by microorganisms Chemically interrupt (poison) the cell Can be used up by microbial contact or

inactivating materials in the environment or on the skin.

Cause adaptive microorganisms No means of attachment for performance

Silver Killing Process

Inhibition of DNA replication

Silver ions (Ag+)

Destruction of cell membranes

Inhibition of enzymes

Silver Killing Process: Speed

1,00E+01

1,00E+02

1,00E+03

1,00E+04

1,00E+05

1,00E+06

BASELINE 24 HOURS 48 HOURS 72 HOURS 7 DAYS 10 DAYS

Timescale

Nu

mb

er

of

MR

SA

Ba

cte

ria

CONTROL (No Additive) RESULTS with RucoSilver

>24h significant killing rateUntreated Treated with Silver

Silver needs to be in contact with the organism for >24hr to have a significant killing rate

MonoFoil® vs. Silver Killing Process: Speed

Untreated Silver MonoFoil® 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Speed of Killing

Reduction after 1 hour Reduction after 24 hours

Ba

cte

ria

l re

du

cti

on

%

No significant killing rate after 1 hour

Silver: Human Exposure

Silver is detected in the blood of most people (Argyraemia)

FDA (Food & Drug Administration) Max. Ag/ drinking water = <0. 01mg/ L

FDA Max. Ag./ daily intake = 5µg/ kg/ day A regular daily diet may contain up to 90µg Ag

“The FDA is issuing a final rule establishing that products containing colloidal silver ingredients

or silver salts for internal or external use are not generally recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded.”

Silver Absorption by Skin

Silver ions enter bacterial cell, destroy DNA and RNA, and alters bacterial metabolism.

Bioaccumulation Liver Kidney Eye Brain Blood-Bone marrow

Silver Resistance & BioaccumulationUniversity of Illinois Paper

FEMS Microbiology Reviews 27, 341-353 (2003)

University of Minnesota paper

University of Kent Paper

University College London Paper

Bacterial Resistance to Silver

Silver Resistant strains have been isolated from burns, and other skin wounds.

These bacteria show a genetically determined inability to take up or retain silver ion.

They are expected where bacteria are exposed to any antibiotic for a prolonged period ? MUTATION

Bacteria have been isolated from skin wounds treated with silver for several months – bacterial self-preservation through BIOFILM formation.

Toxic Silver Mines

Children as young as 10 are working in silver mines. Average life expectancy of these miners is 45 years of age.

Where does your silver come from?

Production of Silver involves:• Cyanide• Lead• Mercury• Arsenic• Strong acids• Cadmium

Toxic Silver Mines

Water flowing out of this abandoned silver mine is still contaminated even 34 years after its closing.

• Water Impacts

• Human Health Impacts

• Wildlife Impacts

Konomai Mine, Japan

Nano-Silver

Economist Article

Is smaller better?

The uncertainty of Nano-Silver

“The unusual properties of tiny particles contain huge promise. But nobody knows how safe they are. And too few people are trying to find out.”

Nano Silver

Silver Coated Future

More questionsA distinct lack of answers

Federal Governmental Agencies

Fraud Of Environmental Friendliness

Silver Contaminate StudyIn a test with 22 other metals, silver was named the most toxic. Long term exposure to silver increases blood concentrations to toxic levels which can cause sarcomas, anemia, and enlargement of the heart.

State Governmental Agencies

California Sanitations Group

“Silver is a toxic and bioaccumulative element”

Fraud Of Environmental Friendliness

Politically Active Environmental Groups: Speaking out against silver

NRDC is one of the nation's most effective environmental action organizations. They have the support of 1.2 million members and a budget of over 70 million to protect the planet's wildlife and wonders. With board members like Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Redford and James Taylor and many successful campaigns it is easy to see why this is a very influential group

Silver Toxic To Environment

University of Rhode Island / EPA Study

California Berkeley Conference on San Francisco Bay

Politically Active Environmental Groups:Speaking out against silver

Fraud Of Environmental Friendliness

Most extensive environmental network in the world, with almost 1 million supporters across five continents and more than 70 national organizations worldwide.

• Toxicity risk to human health and environment

• Antibiotic resistance among harmful bacteria

• Neurological problems, kidney damage, headaches, fatigue and skin irritation

Research by Pew Charitable Trusts: September, 2008

“Silver itself is classified as an environmental hazard . . . because it is more toxic to aquatic plants and animals than any metal except mercury. Even if a nanoparticle itself is not especially toxic, silver nanoparticles increase the effectiveness of delivering toxic silver ions to locations where they can cause toxicity.”

Silver vs MonoFoil ®

Differences MonoFoil Silver

Chemical nature Bonded Polymer Salts and Ions

Mode of antimicrobial action Cell "Wall" Destruction "Wall," DNA, Enzymes - POISON

Durability Chemically Bonded Leaches / Releases

Effectiveness Quick Kill Broad Spectrum Spectrum and Time to Kill Limited

Safety No Risks Risks to Humans and Envrionment

Cost Cost / Effective Expensive / Effective

Verification Easy Test (Mill & Store) Complicated Test

Regulatory compliance Compliant Compliant

Range of antimicrobial activity Broad Spectrum Limited

Silver vs MonoFoil®

Silver MonoFoil Antimicrobial

Risk of Bacterial Resistance No Risk of any Bacterial Resistance

Risk of Bacterial Adaptation No Risk of Bacterial Adaptation

Silver Allergy Skin Friendly

Grey Shading Transparent

Silver ions can be deactivated by other counter ions like S²⁻

Not sensitive to other chemicals

Conclusions

Silver is a migrating technology:

Migration to the environment

Migration to the skin

Some bacteria can develop resistance to silver.

Silver is an efficacious antibacterial agent but silver resistant bacteria do occur.

Silver Allergy and grey shading do occur

At least 24 hours to have a significant bacterial reduction.

High cost

= Safe Technology No risk of any bacterial

adaptation or resistance

References

A. B. G. Lansdown, PhD, FRCPath, Clinical Research Fellow Department of Clinical Chemistry, Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine. London UK

Russell AD, Hugo WB. Antimicrobial activity and action of silver… In: Ellis GP, Luscombe DK, editors. Progress in Medicinal Chemistry. : Elsevier Science, 1994; 351-369.

www.worldwidewounds.com : Introducing Silver Dressings. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov : National center for Biotechnology

Information www.fda.gov : Food and Drug Administration