1. 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

2. MonoFoil® Technology : Polymeric Antimicrobial Bonded to Surface
Bonded = No Release
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

3. Antimicrobials 101 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

4. Facts About Silver
Silver is NOT a trace metal in the human body and fulfills no functional or physiological value.
Silver metal is INERT but many of the silver products offered as antimicrobials are in the ionic form, which is TOXIC.
Silver ions readily combine with proteins and are inactivated, and thereby are not available for microbial control.
Silver ions react with all kinds of non-target organisms.
Silver is a heavy metal and is a serious and persistent environmental threat.
In its ionic form, this heavy metal enters the food chain by adsorption and ingestion.

5. Silver 101
Leach = Release

6. Silver Providers “Release”
“A Release of Silver on Demand”
“The maximum release rate ensures continuous antimicrobial action.”
“Silver releases ions spontaneously.”

7. 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

8. Is Silver a non-migrating technology?
ASTM E antibacterial test
If migrating antimicrobials are present, residual activity would be detected after filtering the solution.
Samples: Test on 100% cotton socks
Untreated socks
Socks treated with silver technology
Socks treated with triclosan ( a migrating antimicrobial)
Socks treated with MonoFoil
Results after filtering the microbial solutions through non-reactive media.

9. Is Silver a non-migrating technology?
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY
100% Cotton Samples
FABRIC
ASTM E DSF
ZOI
ASTM 147 ZOI
Solution
ASTM E
Filtration
Untreated Standard 0% No
Silver Treated
99.9%
99.6%
Triclosan Treated
99.5%
Yes
Treated
Conclusion: Triclosan and silver are migrating technologies!

10. 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

11. Silver Killing Process
Destruction of cell membranes
Inhibition of DNA replication
Inhibition of enzymes
Silver ions (Ag+)

12. Silver Killing Process: Speed
Silver needs to be in contact with the organism for >24hr to have a significant killing rate
Untreated Treated with Silver
>24h significant killing rate

13. MonoFoil® vs. Silver Killing Process: Speed

14. 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.”

15. 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

16. Silver Resistance & Bioaccumulation
University of Illinois Paper
FEMS Microbiology Reviews 27, (2003)
University of Minnesota paper
University of Kent Paper
University College London Paper

17. 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.

18. Toxic Silver Mines Where does your silver come from?
Children as young as 10 are working in silver mines. Average life expectancy of these miners is 45 years of age.
Production of Silver involves:
Cyanide
Lead
Mercury
Arsenic
Strong acids
Cadmium

19. 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

20. 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.”

21. Nano Silver
Silver Coated Future
More questions
A distinct lack of answers

22. Fraud Of Environmental Friendliness
Federal Governmental Agencies
Silver Contaminate Study
In 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”

23. 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

24. Fraud Of Environmental Friendliness
Politically Active Environmental Groups: Speaking out against silver
Toxicity risk to human health and environment
Antibiotic resistance among harmful bacteria
Neurological problems, kidney damage, headaches, fatigue and skin irritation
Most extensive environmental network in the world, with almost 1 million supporters across five continents and more than 70 national organizations worldwide.

25. 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.”

26. 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
Range of antimicrobial activity
Broad Spectrum
Limited

27. MonoFoil Antimicrobial
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

28. 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

29. 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;
: Introducing Silver Dressings.
: National center for Biotechnology Information
: Food and Drug Administration