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Nanotechnology delivers remarkable, tangible product benefits while the technology itself remains virtually undetectable to the human senses. While scientists generally describe nanoscience as beginning with particles that measure less than 100 nanometers, our scientific team is working with particles that measure less than 15 nanometers. The key to optimizing the use of silver as an antimicrobial is to maximize the production of silver ions that target and eliminate microbes. Unlike other silver-based antimicrobial solutions that depend on adding increasingly more silver to be effective, our scientists understand that the best way to maximize silver ion release is to generate as much silver surface area as possible. This is exactly what NanoHorizons patented nanotechnology does. The smaller the silver particle is, the larger the surface area. It is only at nanoscale size that the most ions can be produced relative to the amount of silver used. NanoHorizons engineered nanosilver particles generate surface area 300,000 times more efficiently and are so small that they are virtually 100 percent surface area with no wasted “inside.” NanoHorizons nanosilver-based products have been proven, in independent testing, to kill 99.9 percent of test bacteria and fungus commonly associated with odors and material deterioration.
Nanotechnology brings other advantages to silver. NanoHorizons’ nanosilver-based products not only make silver antimicrobial properties more effective in eliminating microbes, they are also chemically and permanently bounded to molecules in the products in which they are integrated, be it fiber, foam, plastic or coatings. This way, the silver particles are not subject to being washed out or worn off over time. Their antimicrobial capabilities are effective for the life of the host material. In addition, our silver nanoparticles are so small that they don’t impact other chemical or mechanical properties - such as flame retardation - of the product in which they are used. These capabilities, along with the fact our nanoscale silver is integration-ready into the manufacturing process as well as safe and environmentally sensitive, make the NanoHorizons antimicrobial solution, marketed under the SmartSilver™ brand, unique and unmatched in the market place. Return to Technology
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Using groundbreaking patented technology, NanoHorizons has leveraged the natural antimicrobial properties of silver with its nanotechnology expertise to create a unique solution to the age-old problem of microbial growth. Bacteria and fungus are ubiquitous and in the presence of moisture and a food source they will grow rapidly, potentially producing clinical health concerns, personal wellness issues, and material damage. Silver has a long history of use as an antimicrobial. The Greeks used silver cooking utensils and Roman soldiers bound silver coins with their wounds. Before refrigeration, housewives dropped silver coins in milk to retard spoilage. Drops of silver nitrate have been used since the 1880s as an eye-rinse for newborn babies. Since the 1960s, hospital burn units have used silver impregnated dressings to treat wounds and prevent infections. In short, silver is a well understood antimicrobial with an excellent safety record and proven efficacy.
