Silver and its application as an antimicrobial agent

Abstract

This review summarises patents published from 2001 to 2004 on the microcidal properties of silver-releasing materials for healthcare and medicine. The anti-inflammatory, re-epitheliasation and antihaemorrhagic properties of the silver-releasing materials are also disclosed. A biological evaluation of the anti-viral properties of silver tetra-silver tetra-oxide is discussed, but no biological data have been reported to support the claim that silver (I) has anti--viral prop-erties, as disclosed by most of the patents.