Antibacterial Effect of Colloidal Silver – Backed by Research

Silver reacts against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Among the ones frequently tested are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

Multi-drug resistant bacteria are a common cause of surgical site infections and hospital-acquired infections. MDR bacteria can pass genetic material to other bacteria as well. This can result in cell mutations in the receiving bacteria which helps them build antibiotic resistance. Studies on antibacterial colloidal silver aim to resolve this growing public health concern.

Bacteria that have developed a resistance to different antibiotics are a common cause of surgical and hospital-borne infections.

Colloidal Silver Inhibits Bacterial Growth

Does silver have antibacterial properties? There is enough evidence to show that it does. Silver can kill bacteria and stop them from spreading. In 2020, a study aimed to identify the minimum amount of colloidal silver required to stop bacteria from growing. The test was run for a total of 270 strains of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. coli were among those that were tested. One of the conclusions reached by the researchers is that colloidal silver speeds up the elimination of MDR bacteria.[3]

FDA Disclaimer: Coated Silver is not supposed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Colloidal Silver Protects Implants from Bacterial Invasion

One of the most common causes of unsuccessful implant operations is the buildup of biofilm around the implant device and surrounding tissues. Bacterial strains grow on medical implant sites that eventually lead to infections.

A study conducted in 2020 aimed to see if adding silver nanoparticles to implants and applying them on surgical sites would prevent biofilm from forming. Biofilm refers to a thin, membrane-like layer formed by invasive bacteria. It is often seen growing on surgical sites and medical implants. It increases a patient’s risk of infection. The researchers found that adding a very little amount of nanosilver lowered the probability of biofilms from forming. [4]

These findings have very important implications for the community. With the use of silver nanotechnology, more people will be able to benefit from wearing medical devices. This is made possible by achieving greater compatibility of medical implants. It also significantly lessens the risk of developing surgical site infections.

A 2020 study aimed to know whether biofilm growth was prevented when silver nanoparticles were added to implants.

Colloidal Silver Action Against Other Harmful Microorganisms

A study conducted in 2013 tested how bacteria would react to silver. [5] The researchers concluded that the use of colloidal silver inhibited bacterial growth. The study also examined how it would affect the growth and proliferation of fungi and viruses. They found it could only kill some strains of fungi. Moreover, it did not have any effect on viruses.

On the contrary, a more recent study conducted in 2020 found that silver nanoparticles can kill (Censored by FTC), otherwise known as the (Censored by FTC).[6] Silver nanoparticles invade the viral structure, thereby reducing the viral load and its potential to cause infection. Nanosilver particles used in the study have a diameter measuring 10 nanometers.

A 2020 study showed that silver nanoparticles are effective against (Censored by FTC), the virus responsible for (Censored by FTC) disease.

More recent studies have demonstrated that nanosilver particles are effective in fighting harmful microorganisms other than bacteria. In general, these studies provide evidence that nanosilver increases the permeability of the membrane of pathogens. By increasing the rate of penetration, silver can kill harmful microorganisms faster.

Nanosilver can kill a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, This thought gives hope that public health risks caused by these microorganisms may be avoided after all.

None of these findings, however, are final and none have been further examined, much less approved by the FDA.

 

Before anything else, you must never attempt to create a silver preparation yourself. People who have attempted to do this faced results that devastated their bodies and posed serious risks to their health. If taken in the wrong forms and with improper dosing, silver can build up inside the body. Signs and symptoms of silver poisoning will begin to show once it reaches toxic levels.

You must get only coated colloidal silver. This form of silver utilizes nanosilver particles as active ingredients. Even then, you cannot trust manufacturers and sellers of coated silver to tell you exactly what you’re paying for.

In 2020, a study on antibacterial colloidal silver supplements sold on amazon.com compared 14 of the most popular brands on the platform. The researchers found that 10 of the products included in the study did not even contain silver nanoparticles. Instead, these products used silver particles that were larger than 100 nm.

Ten products in the study were later found to contain no silver nanoparticles.

Of all the brands investigated by the researchers, Noble Elements LLC Coated Silver was found to contain the smallest silver nanoparticles (AgNP) measuring 10 to 12 nm, and the highest concentration of AgNP at 12,900ppm. [10]

Keep reading to find out why the concentration and size of silver matter.

Silver in its free metallic form will have very different properties from silver that has been subjected to nanotechnology. True coated colloidal silver, which consists of silver nanoparticles, will have the following properties:

• Physical Presentation. Silver nanoparticles will present with a yellowish appearance. By nature, colorless products are likely to contain ionic silver only and not nanosilver.
• Absorption. Silver nanoparticles are silver elements that have a diameter of between 1 and 100 nanometers. This minute size, invisible to the naked eye, significantly facilitates faster and more efficient absorption by the body, whether topical, inhaled, or ingested. At this size, it also becomes more effective in attacking harmful microorganisms at faster rates.
• Action on Microorganisms. Nanosilver presents with a larger surface area which makes it more reactive than ionic silver. The former produces more silver ions compared to larger silver particles given the same quantity. This property enhances both the bactericidal (bacteria-killing) and bacteriostatic (stopping the growth of bacteria) effects of silver.
• Elimination from the body. Nanosilver, when eliminated from the human body, involves the kidney and liver. Silver nanoparticles exit the body through feces and urine, unlike large silver particles that tend to accumulate inside the body.

The Size of Silver Matters

Studies prove that silver nanoparticles penetrate the outer membrane of bacteria much better than any other silver preparation. One particular study showed how different sizes of silver nanoparticles acted on bacteria in terms of killing and stopping these from reproducing.[11] Silver ions were applied to a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including S. aureus, during the experiment.

The researchers concluded that the smaller the silver nanoparticles, the more effective it was at stopping bacteria from growing.

The Type of Silver Used Matters

Some forms of silver are better for antimicrobial use over others.

Silver ions have obtained a positive reputation for effectively fighting against harmful, drug-resistant strains of bacteria. Silver ions are widely used in hospital settings for disinfection as well as for wound dressings. Silver ions, however, are made up of larger molecules of silver.

More recent applications of silver nanotechnology are demonstrating more potent activity against bacteria.[12] Nanosilver has been shown to be effective in preventing and killing multi-drug resistant strains compared to silver ions.[13] In addition, topical applications of nanosilver can help facilitate faster-wound healing.[14]

The mechanism of action for this has yet to be fully understood. Although, this has been linked to nanosilver’s positive effect on cytokines. Cytokines are small proteins that play a key role in tissue repair and regeneration.