Perfect storm for silver brewing as antibiotics substitute--Silver Institute

Silver may soon replace antibiotics as an alternative for healing, and is increasingly gaining ground in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology.

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - 

The over-prescription of antibiotics and the rapid spread of bacteria globally are creating "a perfect storm for silver," which will encourage even more medical use of the precious metal, Silver Institute Executive Director Mike DiRienzo said Thursday.

In a presentation to the Silver Summit in Spokane, DiRienzo detailed new and emerging uses for silver, lead by the metal's growing significance in hospitals and the practice of medicine.

"Currently we're seeing a surge of applications for silver-based biocides in all areas: industrial, commercial and consumer. New products are being introduced almost daily," he said.

Silver may soon replace antibiotics as an alternative to healing, he explained. The use of silver in medical implants is in the testing phase, such as the use of silver in medical implants to reduce the threat of spinal infections.

DiRienzo explained, "Engineers at the University of California, Davis have developed a ‘smart' contact lens designed to measure pressure within the eye. High eye pressure can be a sign of glaucoma, the world's second leading cause of blindness."

"At the heart of the new lens are sensors that measure stress on the cornea and the fluid pressure within the eye. The lens is composed of a type of silicone used in commercial contact lenses and silver particles placed on the lens that  act as conductive wires and double  as antimicrobial  agents," he added.

The new lens could be used by hospitals and doctors to check for glaucoma but also by patients in their homes through a personal computer hooked into a wireless network.

Meanwhile, hospitals are increasingly utilizing silver in equipment surfaces, coatings, and other uses aimed at reducing bacteria growth. Silver is even being used in the paper used in hospital notes.

The Federal Drug Administration is permitting silver to be used in bottled water, DiRienzo noted. It is already being utilized in coatings for equipment used in the processing for milk.

Silver can also be found in germ-killing lockers now being used by the military, he said.

The precious metal is also being increasingly used in textiles, such as in polyester fiber coatings. DiRienzo said India just began using silver to preserve silk fabrics. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi have developed a method to create anti-microbial silk by infusing the delicate material with silver ions.

"This marks the first time that silver ions have been embedded into woven silk although it has been successfully applied to cotton and synthetic textiles," DiRienzo noted.

Among other consumer applications of silver are consumer electronics with millions expected to be invested in silver conductive inks by 2015, DiRienzo explained.

Silver has been used in surface mounting, which allows components to be fastened both mechanically and electronically to printed circuit boards. Components are placed in indentations on circuit boards and molten silver alloy solder flows across its surface to create an instantaneous permanent bond between the two.

Silver is used to concentrate solar-energy for power generation, and in humidifiers to slow the growth of bacteria. It also used in rechargeable solar batteries.

Silver is also reducing bacteria in refrigerators and in washing machines, he added.

DiRienzo noted that "the newest trend is the use of nano-silver particles to deliver silver ions as the nano-technology industry grows and we become more knowledgeable about how nano-particles behave."  

He called silver nanotechnology "a huge market," which is being somewhat stymied by a two-year battle with EPA over the designation of the technology as a potentially toxic metal.

The U.S. has the heaviest nanotechnology investment, DiRienzo noted, with Japan is second place.

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responses to this article

FDA Approval Fascinating article, especially in light of how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and big pharmaceuticals have worked to suppress anyone promoting the use of silver as an antibiotic. Fortunately, this influence stops at the borders. by savvy_trader on September 27 2009, 21:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Watch out fo snakeoil Well, if a particular silver based compound or application can be repeatedly proven in double blind peer reviewed placebo controlled trails, great. Until then, skepticism is a virtue if you plan on actually using the stuff for internally. It . .more would be nice if it lives up to the hype, but so far silver really hasn't. Put it in your socks, not your body. Learn more: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colloidal-silver/AN01682 http://nccam.nih.gov/health/silver/#science http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/silverad.html . .less by klb on September 29 2009, 14:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No need to prove anything The use of silver as an antibiotic is already founded on historical widespread use in health and medicine. Just because people have forgotten about it does not mean it does not work. Just because something hasn't gone through a 'controlled' trial . .more does not mean it does not work. Actually, people are only re-discovering what's been known since the days of old... . .less by Plb on September 29 2009, 23:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Watch out fo skeptics ...if a particular silver based compound or application can be repeatedly proven in double blind peer reviewed placebo controlled trails... And can you demonstrate the same rigor for the "alternatives" which the FDA and big pharma shoves . .more down our throats? Funny how the EPA says that silver is toxic and yet it is ok to put mercury in vaccines and fluoride (a neurotoxin) in toothpaste. . .less by RJ on September 30 2009, 15:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Not Snake Oil Silver has been used for centuries as an effective anti-microbial. In the old days of sailing ships, the sailors would drop silver coins into their kegs of water to keep them from going bad at sea. People have forgotten about that since the US . .more Govt. insists on, and the public allows, using chlorine to treat its water supply which causes most of the cardiac/circulatory problems and deaths in this country. (It ain't cholesterol causing the problems.) The Japanese figured this out after WWII when the US wanted them to use chlorine also. The rate of heart problems went through the roof, so they stopped using chlorine. Problem solved. (I'm not sure what they are using currently). You ever wonder why some old timer lives to be 100 years old when they live out in the boondocks? It is because they are getting their water from a windmill or water well that doesn't use chlorine. Silver would be a far better alternative for water treatment. . .less by Michael on September 30 2009, 19:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Blarney 1. Punt your product 2. Like antibiotics ubiquitous use of silver medically will result in reduced effectiveness over time. 3. It's all already priced in, or so the market experts say. by Gee Whizz on October 01 2009, 01:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

silver for the generations "born with a silver spoon in your mouth" - meant that you had an excellent chance of surviving childhood infections like diphtheria!. Silver serving dishes and sterling silver rattles for babies are treasured family heirlooms for more than the . .more silver content. . .less by silverbug on October 19 2009, 15:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Silver Water "The Federal Drug Administration is permitting silver to be used in bottled water..." OK, so now I'm gonna start filtering my pee and make millions! :) by Freemarketman on October 20 2009, 06:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Silver Antimicrobial Effects Silver has proven clinical efficacy in a broad range of applications as an antimicrobial substance. Wound dressings impregnated with silver used in contaminated and infected wounds provide faster healing and clearance of bacteria as opposed to . .more dressings without silver. There is a body of clinical evidence which is peer reviewed and double blinded. It is not a theoretical concept at this point. . .less by ConfederacyofDunces on November 23 2009, 18:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Silver Is ETF tobuy silver availabale? by MohindarSingh on March 02 2010, 00:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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