How does silver kill bacteria?

The antibacterial properties of silver have been known for thousands of years. Silver is commonly used in hospitals and other areas requiring special hygiene to combat bacteria, for example in textiles and furniture. What is the basis for silver's antibacterial properties?

Textile engineer Matteo Vallarsa, who has been a partner at Medanta since 2017, is a pioneer in the textile industry, constantly exploring innovations and new sustainable production methods. In addition to Medanta, Matteo Vallarsa collaborates with Hugo Boss, Armani, Diesel and Benetton, among others.

We asked Matteo why and how silver kills bacteria. "Silver ions kill bacteria by making holes in the bacterial cell membranes. The power of silver ions is threefold," says Matteo Vallarsa.

He summarized the answer in three main points:

1. Silver ions inhibit the activity of enzymes that transport oxygen.
2. Silver ions inactivate sulfur-containing proteins and inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
3. Silver ions lock the bacterial cells.

The use of silver in textiles also has other benefits, as antibacterially treated clothing can also speed up wound healing. Medanta has been conducting research and development on this together with Per Saris, professor of microbiology at the University of Helsinki, for a couple of years.

In which products does Medanta use silver treatment?

Thanks to the antimicrobial treatment, the surfaces of Medanta's antimicrobial-treated textiles do not provide a breeding ground for microbes. They also improve the freshness of the garment by eliminating unwanted odors.