Wound treatment meets silver lining

Scientists have pioneered silver nanotechnology to incorporate silver directly into natural and artificial fibres. The key benefit is that it can be used to produce materials for use in the prevention of bacterial and fungal growth - in dressings for wounds, for example.

The effects are expected to last throughout the lifetime of the fibre, making it especially appropriate for use in healthcare and some consumer textile products.

The therapeutic effectiveness of silver has long been acknowledged. The Romans used silver nitrate therapeutically; the alchemist Paracelsus spoke of the virtues of silver as a healing substance. It was in the 1800s that physicians discovered the antibacterial qualities of silver and applied them to their practice of medicine.

They used silver nitrate successfully in the treatment of skin ulcers, compound fractures and for wounds. Dr William Halstead, one of the founding fathers of modern surgery, promoted silver foil dressings for wounds that were used extensively until 1955 when antibiotics became widespread.

Silver coating in fibre is not a new idea but it has been dogged by two problems: the high cost and the staining that can arise from leaching of the silver.

The new process developed by United Kingdom science and technology company QinetiQ helps deal with these drawbacks by being more cost effective and by using a technology that prevents leaching of the silver.

It has already produced anti-microbial and anti-fungal effects with alginate and cellulose fibres and is working with silk and acrylic fibres (both hollow and solid). The fibre samples have been tested and validated both in-house and externally with Shirley Technologies in the UK.

Anti-microbial and anti-fungal fibres not only halt the spread of bacteria but also promote healing in wound management. Apart from this important contribution to wound healing, the fibres have many other potential benefits. They can be used in controlling odours in shoes and clothing, for example.

The technology could be applied to materials as diverse as foams, films, paints and erasers. Equipment in hospital operating theatres, ward furniture, even door handles, could be coated to help stop the spread of bacteria - invaluable in combating the worrying rise of hospital-acquired infections that have become antibiotic-resistant.

Additionally, it could be used on public transport, furniture and working surfaces in our homes to provide a safer and cleaner environment.

Another advantage is that it can easily be incorporated into existing fibre-manufacturing processes. QinetiQ is now looking to take its technology forward by establishing licensing agreements with industry.