Antimicrobial Silver in Medicinal and Consumer Applications: A Patent Review of the Past Decade (2007–2017)

1Silver is a soft and shiny transition metal which is known to have the highest reflectivity of all metals. Among its many useful properties, silver it recognized to have antimicrobial activity. Silver is known to be biologically active when it is dispersed into its monoatomic ionic state (Ag+), when it is soluble in aqueous environments. This is the same form which appears in ionic silver compounds such as silver nitrate and silver sulfadiazine, which have been frequently used to treat wounds. Another form of silver is its native nanocrystalline form (Ag0). The metallic (Ag0) and ionic forms can also appear loosely associated with other elements such as oxygen or other metals and can form covalent bonds or coordination complexes.

2To date, there are three known mechanisms by which silver acts on microbes. Firstly, silver cations can form pores and puncture the bacterial cell wall by reacting with the peptidoglycan component. Secondly, silver ions can enter into the bacterial cell, both inhibiting cellular respiration and disrupting metabolic pathways resulting in generation of reactive oxygen species. Lastly, once in the cell silver can also disrupt DNA and its replication cycle (Figure 1). A recently published review includes more details about the bactericidal mechanisms of silver, along with methods of silver nanoparticle preparation. Throughout history, silver has consistently been used to restrict the spread of human disease by incorporation into articles used in daily life. The earliest recorded use of silver for therapeutic purposes dates back to the Han Dynasty in China circa. 1500 B.C.E. Silver vessels and plates were frequently used during the Phoenician, Macedonian, and Persian empires. Families of the higher socioeconomic classes during the middle-ages were so acquainted with the usage of silver that they developed bluish skin discolorations known as argyria, an affliction which may have led to the term ‘blue blood’ to describe members of the aristocracy. Modern medicine utilizes medical grade forms of silver, such as silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine, and colloidal silver.

3The discovery of antibiotics in the early 20th century led to a cessation in the development of silver as an antimicrobial agent. However, the development of increasing levels of bacterial resistance to most antibiotics in recent years has led to reexamination of the potential of this ancient remedy including studies with patients using colloidal silver and antibiotics. This review aims to demonstrate the wide and ever-expanding applications of silver in medicine, health care, and other daily life activities, with a focus on the patents registered during the past decade. A similar patent review was published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents in 2005, covering patents compiled from 2001–2004. The current review extends to the years 2007–2017. An analysis of the growth of patents describing antimicrobial silver applications is presented throughout this review, along with commentary of selected examples demonstrating some of the more interesting applications. Our analysis has separated these discussions of the use of silver into four general categories: Medical applications, personal care products, domestic household products, and agricultural/industrial applications.

4This section presents a selection of some of the most interesting and unique patented products which utilize silver for their bactericidal action in the medical field, including therapies based on silver’s antimicrobial properties. The product numbers referred to in this section correspond to those listed in Table 1.

5Surface coatings incorporating silver are a common application. One new approach is a method for producing ready packed medical apparatus which sterilizes itself upon the opening of the package, by creating a vapor that activates a silver-containing hydrophilic surface coating (Product No. 1). The antimicrobial properties of silver have been highly valued in medical application where implanted devices are coated with silver nanoparticles for the antimicrobial effects, but manufacturers need to be aware that this application is claimed in a patent application (Product No. 2) with a very broad claim 1: “An article that is implantable in an animal, the article comprising a microparticulate silver-containing antimicrobial layer stably adhered upon at least one surface of the article.” However, the application does not appear to have progressed towards granting. Invasive surgical tools such as medical grade needles (Product No. 3) can also be coated with silver nanoparticles as described in its related patent (Product No. 4). Medical devices that are directly introduced into the human body that contain silver include vascular catheters (Product No. 5), bone implants (Product No. 6), and biliary duct brackets (Product No. 7). Another topical application of antimicrobial silver has incorporated it into coatings applied to the interior surface of a building's exterior wall (Products No. 8a and 8b).

6Another general use is for topical treatments. Numerous topical gels with different formulations of silver have been patented. Silver was first used to treat burn wounds in the form of 0.5% silver nitrate solution and silver sulfadiazine cream in 1960. However, this was impractical as the dressings required rehydration every couple of hours. To overcome this limitation silver nanoparticle-based gels and silver salt-based gels have been developed (Products No. 9a, 9b and 10), with all approaches still considered novel.

7Silver based wound dressings have greatly improved in efficacy compared to standard dressings, and more complex dressings have been developed. New knowledge in burn wound management led to the discovery of a method to immobilize silver nanoparticles on a gel-support matrix which is attached to a wound dressing (Product No. 11). A recently commercialized wound dressing allows a prolonged use of the dressing for up to 7 days or until saturation, without reapplication (Figure 2). It is made possible through its design, which slowly releases silver ions upon contact with wound exudates. Its highly absorbent padding is also coated with a layer of silicone which is aimed to reduce pain during removal and reapplication of the dressing. (Product No. 12). The use of silver with wound dressings is known to reduce scarring and such formulations are widely used (Product No.13). Silver-based wound dressings are available under brand names with different compositions, such as Mepilex® Ag, Acticoat™, Aquacel®, Flaminal®, Allevyn® Ag, and Biatain® Ag, SILVERCEL™. Other products containing a silver component, not specifically developed for wound healing, have been patented for treatment of bacterial infection (Products No. 14a and 14b).

8Silver has also been applied across the dental field. Silver has been the key component in dental amalgam fillings for more than one hundred years. However, its antimicrobial properties were not patented. Silver is used in the prevention of infection during and after dental surgery (Product No. 15). Dental support fixtures made out of silver and denture materials, and other body restoration objects, having silver nanoparticles as additives can reduce bacterial infections, especially during first few months of installation (Products No. 16 and 17).

9This section presents grooming products and devices which utilize silver for its sanitizing effects, summarized in Table 2. Hygiene and grooming products such as shavers (Product No. 18), toothbrushes (Product No. 19) and sanitary pads (Product No. 20) are frequently employed under adverse conditions where they encounter the bacteria microbiome, but are relied upon to be sanitary. One example of such usage is by the German public company “Beiersdorf AG” which has products incorporating silver for its added antimicrobial properties. They have applied silver over a wide range of products from shower gels and deodorants to first aid bandages (Figure 3).

10Since using silver to treat skin infections is common, researchers in dermatology frequently resort to silver for treating conditions related to bacterial colonization, such as body odors (Product No. 21), acne outbreaks (Product No. 22), eczema and rash (Product No. 23).

11A range of other personal health products have also added silver to improve their hygienic capacities, including contact lenses (Product No. 24), antimicrobial fabric garments (Products No. 25a, 25b and 25c), breast pump assemblies (Product No. 26), and hair dye (Product No. 27).

12Most cosmetic products come in the form of cream, aqueous lotions, or hydrogel medium. It is observed that most manufacturers favor the incorporation of silver colloids into their products as they do not precipitate and separate, with the added benefit of acting as a preservative. Colloidal silver is defined as a mixture of silver ions and silver nanoparticles suspended in an aqueous medium. They are usually synthesized by electrolysis using a set of silver cathodes. Colloidal silver was first used in 1891 by a surgeon named B.C Crede to sterilize wounds. The use of silver grew in popularity between 1900 to the 1940s. Subsequently, antibiotics supplanted the use of silver. Today, many products are offered not only as colloidal silver solutions, but also as personal devices suitable for home use, that synthesize colloidal silver. However, the commercialization of colloidal silver has been accompanied by inconsistencies in colloidal silver production and properties, as well as cases of unexpected side effects. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has excluded any commercialized colloidal silver that claims health benefits without scientific evidence. Similar action has been taken by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia and the European Commission (EC). The commercial sales of colloidal silver are not banned, but claims of health benefits without scientific support are not permitted.

13The antimicrobial applications of silver started in ancient times in domestic products like silver plates and pitchers. With that in mind, there continue to be domestic applications of silver, particular for surface treatments (Table 3).

14Silver is widely incorporated into surface coatings of electrical goods such as automated bathtubs (Product No. 28), laundry washing machines (Product No. 29), air purifiers with silver filters (Product No. 30) and refrigerators (Product No. 31), to produce ‘bacteria-free’ products. Application of silver nanoparticles to other household objects with frequent handling such as keyboards (Product No. 32), bath safety aids (Product No. 33), and bathroom safety handles (Product No. 34). Special stand-alone products such as containers for meat or water/wine/milk storage (Products No. 35a and 35b) are useful applications where bacterial contamination may present a health issue.

15Despite the many beneficial innovations in the use of silver as an antimicrobial agent, its application in cleaning products and disposable tools such as gloves (Product No. 36), disinfectant wipes (Product No. 37), and cleaning detergent (Product No. 38) may have negative environmental impacts. Cleaning products, once used, usually end up in sewage treatment systems, and eventually the environment. This is a concern for silver nanoparticles, as there are currently no effective methods for filtering out silver nanoparticles. The release of large amount of silver products into the environment may lead to disturbances of the microbiological ecosystem, and potentially lead to bacterial resistance to silver. Consequently, alternative methods of sanitization should be considered such as the application of alcohol or bleach which are sufficient for domestic purposes, or employing ‘fixed’ silver containing surfaces that reduce the risk of environmental release.

16Apart from being a threat to beneficial environmental bacteria, another issue to be addressed is the possible longer-term reduction of the potency of silver in killing microbes. Since the discovery of antibiotics, the efficacy of antibiotics has been compromised by over-prescription and over-usage, leading to the current antibiotic crisis. The presence of low levels of antibiotics in the environment fosters the generation of multiple drug resistant strains. Silver is not immune to the generation of bacterial resistance, with several reports in recent years. This history suggests a need for a systemic reassessment of the usage of silver in domestic products, so that it is not used too extravagantly, or released haphazardly.

17Silver has also been used for a variety of agricultural and industrial products. In industry, large scale water purification can be made cost effective by using colloidal silver for purification as it is needed only in small quantities and can purify large quantities of water, though potential environmental risk needs to be considered. For agriculture use, silver has been incorporated in nylon ropes that are used to tie down plants, cover them with netting, and for various other applications. These ropes normally decay after time due to bacterial biofilm formation, so the silver prevents this decomposition. Agricultural use of silver products must be carefully assessed to avoid any impact on the microbial flora and symbiosis. The growth of healthy crop plants relies heavily upon the formation of symbiotic microbes around the roots such as nitrifying bacteria and mycorrhiza. Studies have shown that the contact of bioactive silver to nitrifying bacteria impedes the formation of symbiotic channels.

18Table 4 presents patented industry and agricultural related products utilizing silver as an antimicrobial agent. An example of agricultural use is Product No. 39 which uses Ag (I) and Ag (II) to treat infections in plants, while Products No. 40 and 41 with coating of a single rope strand with silver to prolong resistance to biofilm formation. Silver coatings can be beneficial in industrial machines which require a completely sterile environment to manufacture food or medical grade products, employing silver in the parts that come in direct contact with the products (Product No. 42). Machinery parts are usually designed for prolonged periods and incorporating silver particles into these materials provides an effective means of isolation and retention of silver so that it is not released into the environment easily.

19Polymers are extremely versatile and when impregnated with silver nanoparticles, they can be used for numerous applications, such as mass-produced food storage containers (Product No. 43) and industrial scale waste bins (Product No. 44). Sterility in the food and therapeutics industry is crucial, so the incorporation of silver into manufacturing equipment in contact with consumer products can be regarded as an appropriate usage. However, in the case of daily used food containers, frequent usage of silver may not be ideal as there is a risk of accumulation in the human body if the silver leaches, potentially leading to similar side effects as were observed in the middle ages when silver utensils were frequently used.

20Products No. 45a and 45b describes a water filtration unit containing immobilized silver nanoparticles for water purification purposes. The invention and manufacture of industrial cleaning solutions containing silver (Product No. 46) is a potentially widespread application, as there is a need for instant effective sanitization to prevent bacterial transmission. However, precautions must be observed to prevent environmental release.

21In the previous sections, applications of antibacterial silver in a variety of fields were discussed. This section presents an overview of silver-related patents on a global level for the purpose of understanding the trends, major applications as well as major contributors. Methods by which the data sets were obtained are reported in Section 3.

22Tracking the number of patents disclosing antimicrobial applications of silver for each year over the past decade, as summarized in Figure 4, shows that there has been a steady upward trajectory in the number of silver patent applications in recent years. The increase may have reached a plateau in 2016/17, but it will be necessary to consider data from 2018 and onwards to confirm this hypothesis.

23The data obtained from Figure 4 can be further dissected to reveal patents registered under each language, as shown in Figure 5. This can be linked to a deduction of the country of origin of these patents. This analysis demonstrates that patents claiming antimicrobial silver products are predominantly contributed by Asian countries, with China (55%), Korea (7%), and Japan (8%) comprising 70% of the chart. Patents registered in English compose 25% while another 5% are various European language patent registrations. It has been speculated that since the FDA and EMA have reduced influence in the Asian countries, this opens up opportunities in Asia for innovations with antimicrobial silver. Indeed, there is some basis for this speculation given the large number of silver related patents being registered in Asian languages, but additional research will be needed to establish the causes of this phenomenon. One of the potential reasons explaining the more substantial contribution of Asian countries in patented silver related innovations and consumer products is the fast-track approval pathway for new drugs in China, supported by consumer trials that are significantly cheaper than in other countries, which can be performed on higher number of participants. There is also a Chinese government strategy to commercialize non-Chinese ideas in China and financially support innovators who are willing to patent their ideas in China, with a preference to procure products whose IP is owned or registered in China. Finally, the database search may produce multiple results for a single patent that are particularly difficult to detect for Chinese applications because Chinese individuals’ names typically have only three or two characters.

24We have also assessed the application of silver according to its field of use. Based on the analysis from Figure 6, only about 20% of the patents in each year claimed medical uses of silver. This could mean that approximately about 80% of the patented silver applications are for other usages, such as domestic, agricultural and industrial usage. If this trend continues, there is potential for damage to the ecosystem if the non-medical uses result in release to the environment. This could lead to a worrisome situation where bacteria evolve resistance to silver, one of few promising alternatives to current classes of antibiotics.

25The patent analysis data and trend chart were generated through search results obtained from the scientific publication database, SciFinder® by the American Chemical Society. It was accessed through the University of Queensland Library portal. Results generated were accurate as of 15 June 2018.

26The keywords used to generate this search were “antibacterial + silver” and “silver + medical” that narrowed down the number of silver related patents to those presenting the word “silver” in the title and describing only silver components. Therefore, patents with the general terms such as “metal nanoparticles” covering all nanomaterials with potential antibacterial applications like silver, platinum, gold, palladium, copper, zinc, and other metals, are not included here. Result limiters used were publication years (2007–2017) and document type (Patent). Search results yielded 5054 hits of exact words and concepts related to its words. No duplicates were found throughout the result set. The full result was analyzed by publication year and was sorted out by natural order to reflect results in yearly order. Obtained results were used to generate a bar chart as Figure 5 by using Microsoft Word chart sketching function.

27The keywords used to generate this search were as for Dataset 1, “antibacterial + silver”. Result limiters used were publication years (2007–2017) and document type (Patent). Search results yielded 5054 hits of exact words and concepts related to its words. No duplicates were found throughout the result set. The full result was analyzed by language and was sorted out by frequency of region. Results obtained were used to generate the pie chart (Figure 6) by using the Microsoft Word chart sketching function.

28The keywords used to generate this search were “silver + medical”. Result limiters used were publication years (2007–2017) and document type (Patent). Search results yielded 1310 hits of exact words and concept related to its words. No duplicates were found throughout the result set. The full result was analyzed by publication year and was sorted out by natural order to reflect results in yearly order. Results obtained were tabulated against dataset 1 to in order to obtain a 100% stacked bar chart presented at Figure 6 by using Microsoft Word chart sketching function.

29The use of silver for its antimicrobial properties is increasing in numerous fields, including the medical, consumer, agricultural and industrial sectors. In just over 10 years, nearly 5000 new applications have been registered. The majority of the patents are from Asian countries, with Chinese language applications representing more than 50% of the global total, followed by Korean and Japanese language filings. Only about 20% of patents are registered in English.

30While the potential benefits of silver are attracting increased attention, a number of publications have pointed out potential adverse effects from the overuse of silver, such as ecosystem disturbance, and bacterial resistance to silver. Since our “armory” of antibiotics has been depleted by the rise in antimicrobial resistance, silver represents a new hope, but mindful use must be considered at an early stage to prevent a repetition of past mistakes.

31We suggest that the application and commercialization of silver related products should be critically reassessed to avoid, or at least minimize, these adverse effects. In particular, while incorporation of silver products in an enclosed environment is justifiable, products which are expected to release silver into the environment should be avoided. There is ample evidence that there can be adverse long-term effects from consumption or exposure to silver, so silver products should only be used in circumstances where (1) there is an absolute need for it, such as a medical intervention, and (2) in modes where silver is immobilized and containable.