Silver is a precious metal, in the medical and health aspects of the application can be traced back to5,000 years ago.
Silver for its unique biological role in the medical and health aspects have been widely applied.

A, silver biological role

(A) anti-microbial role
silver to kill or inhibit the ability of pathogenic microorganisms for many of the Institute confirmed that [5-8 。 Anti-microbial agents, silver and because of its broad-spectrum of unique, and its various types of microbes are effective, includingG + bacteria,G bacteria, spores producing bacteria, fungi, Viruses, such as Mycoplasma.It was in 1978Science Digest " a report of antibiotics to kill about 6 kinds of pathogens, and silver can kill650 species of microorganisms, no resistance "
silver into the body, the rapid uptake reticuloendothelial organizations, endothelial cells deposited on the mesh on the [9 。 Mesh endothelial cells of the immune system is part of the scavenger is the body responsible for removal of foreign bodies, wreckage and the invasion of cells, such as bacteria. Reticuloendothelial cells silver particles as foreign matter intake, but also intake invasion of pathogens, and therefore silver and direct contact with pathogens, play a role. GERMICIDAL the mechanism of silver, silver is generally considered to be within a specific pathogen inactivation of the enzyme, blocking of the respiratory pathway, to kill microorganisms. Sterilization of the silver mechanism, the researchers propose several hypotheses, a representative of the following two

1silver and pathogens in the metabolism of sulfhydryl, putting Enzyme inactivation, metabolism and pathogens can not be killed.
2 response to the cell wall [10, 11 : the bacterial cell wall is a link from amino acids into the protein structure, the structure of proteins known as Peptidoglycan. Silver and exposed the peptidoglycan response, the formation of reversible complex, so that they can not be oxygen (energy) transfer into cells, to stop the activities of bacteria, germs caused the death.
3 DNAcombination: study found that [12, 13 , silver can and bacteria spores or bacteria in theDNA integration. AndDNA base with the silver ions form cross-links each other, the replacement of the purine and pyrimidine in the hydrogen bonds between the neighboring nitrogen, bacteria as a result ofDNA structure of the degeneration and suppression of the DNAcopy, so that bacteria deactivation.

(B) to promote wound healing
Beckerfound [14 , silver with weak current that can be poorly differentiated fibroblasts. Fibroblast is a common cell types, when converted into other types of cells, significantly promote tissue repair and regeneration. Recent studies have confirmed that[15 , pure silver local administration so that no acute infection of the wound epithelial regeneration faster. Thus, in addition to antimicrobial, silver also promote wound healing properties. Its specific mechanism is not clear, and silver may be the anti-inflammatory properties, to reduce leakage of the wound surface.

(C) anti-inflammatory properties as silver
a strong anti-microbial and promote wound healing properties, it is necessary to accurately define its anti-inflammatory properties it is very difficult. Study found that[15, 16 , silver metal-can reduce the activity. Metalloproteinases MMP) is a class of protease, exists in the wound, can be decomposed necrotic tissue, under normal circumstances,MMP and the natural growth factor inhibitors and maintain a balance between the state.MMP structure containing sulfhydryl, activation of zinc ions need the participation of[17, 18 。 Burns or chronic trauma,MMP activity increased[19 MMP excessive activity would undermine growth factor and the new organization, impede wound healing. The silver withMMP structure in the sulfhydryl combination of the wound or by reducing the surface of zinc ions, thereby reducing the excessiveMMPactivity [20, 21 。 Another report said that silver can increase the amount of calcium wound surface, and calcium can speed up the regeneration of epithelial speed[22 。
In addition, there are still reported in the literature[23 , a silver or interleukin role.

Second, the medical applications of modern silver

(A) Application forms a
silver[24 : silver nitrate, phosphate silver. As early as 69 BC, published in Rome in a Pharmacopoeia, silver nitrate was described as drugs, but because of its strong irritation, toxicity, has never been wider application too.
2 silver compounds [25 : silver sulfadiazine, Arsphenamine silver. Silver and antibiotics will combine the strengths of the two play the idea that the earliest by Columbia University,Charles L. Fox the professor. He will be silver sulfadiazine and combined, the silver sulfadiazine, and its activity than separate sulfastrong activity at least 50 times[11 。
3colloidal silver or silver protein [25, 26 : glial state of silver did not toxic and corrosive salt, low concentration there Very strong activity, is the most effective state.
4 silver ions [27 : the help of low-voltage direct current, ion penetration into the tissue through the ion therapy, since20The beginning of the century, it has been applied to the whole of treatment, physical therapy, the treatment of spinal cord that pressure, and so on. -- Ion permeability of therapy commonly used silver and copper, using the plasma is not the role of colloid.
5Tuyin material: Silver, founder of research, AB FlickDr. developed a silver products, that is, in a bandage on the Tu - , To use as a dressing. He is inspired by, people use antibacterial silver, have developed a silver gypsum[28 , Tuyin suture [7 , silvering catheter[29], And so on.
6 Acticoat: In recent years the development of a silver delivery system, from the United States Westaim Biomedicaldeveloped, the silver released into the wound site, Effectively promote wound healing.

(B) use of water purification
As early as in ancient Greek and Roman times, there will be a use of silver as a disinfectant liquid water and other records.