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When people hear the word nanotechnology, their first reaction is that it is somehow related to computers or microscopic robots or something found in only the most hi-tech products. Rarely do they associate the word with socks, or towels, or underclothes, or babies bottles, although nanotechnology can apply equally well to such mundane items.
So what is nanotechnology? Basically nanotechnology (or nanometer technology) deals with components on a microscopic scale. The prefix “nano” means “billionth” so in the case of nanotechnology it refers to components or particles measured in billionths of a metre - or to put it another way, one million particles of one nanometre wide, side-by-side, would measure just one millimetre.
One material that is having an early impact in health care products is nano-silver. Silver has been used for the treatment of medical ailments for over 100 years due to its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. The nano-silver particles typically measure 25nm which means that a relatively small volume of silver gives an extremely large relative surface area, increasing the particles contact with bacteria or fungi, and vastly improving its bactericidal and fungicidal effectiveness. To give an idea of how the surface area can increase, this is equivalent to flattening a 1cm cube of silver (the size of a sugar cube) so that it covers an area larger than a football field.
When the nano-silver comes in contact with bacteria and fungus it will adversely affect cellular metabolism and inhibit cell growth. The nano-silver suppresses respiration, basal metabolism of electron transfer system, and transport of substrate in the microbial cell membrane. The nano-silver inhibits multiplication and growth of those bacteria and fungi which cause infection, odour, itchiness sores and smelly feet.
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 - for example, in dressings for wounds. The effects are expected to last throughout the lifetime of the fibre, making it especially appropriate for use in health care and some consumer textile products.
Silver-based nanoparticles are used in all AgActive products. Silver treatments, usually in the form of extremely fine silver thread, have been used in high end adventure equipment for several years, but pricing was prohibitive. However, with SilverSure we bring you the same effect at a price everyone can afford.
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