Definition
Disinfection refers to the killing or inactivation (in the case of viruses) of microorganisms. Silver is capable of damaging critical sites needed for metabolism and structural integrity of microorganisms by interacting, both with proteins and nucleic acids.
Silver has been known since ancient times for its therapeutic properties. It was first used to treat drinking water over 3,000 years ago and was used to treat burns and chronic wounds. Sodium nitrate, as eye drops have been added to the eyes of newborn to prevent gonococcal infections before the advent of antibiotics. While the rise of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections lessens interest in silver, a resurgence in its use has increased in recent decades because of antibiotic resistant organisms and the development of silver nanoparticles. Advances in material science have created new approaches to the formulations and in optimizing the different...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Lara HL, Garza-Trevino EN, Ixtepan-Turrent L, Singh DK (2011) Silver nanoparticles are broad spectrum bactericidal and virucidal compounds. J Nanobiotechnol 9(30):7–8
Rai M, Yadav A, Gade A (2009) Silver nanoparticles as a new generation of antimicrobials. Biotechnol Adv 27:76–83
Rai MK, Seshmukh SD, Ingle AP, Gade AK (2012) Silver nanoparticles: the powerful nanoweapon against multidrug-resistant bacteria. J Appl Microbiol 112:841–852
Silver S (2003) Bacterial silver resistance: molecular biology and uses and misuses of silver compounds. FEMS Microbiol Rev 27:341–353
Silvestry-Rodriguez N, Sicaritos-Rulelas EE, Gerba CP, Bright KR (2007) Silver as a disinfectant. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 191:23–45
Thurman RB, Gerba CP (1989) The molecular mechanisms of copper and silver ion disinfection of bacteria and viruses. CRC Crit Rev Environ Contr 18:195–315
Xiong Z, Ma J, Ng WJ, Waite TD, Zhao XS (2011) Silver-modified mesoporous TiO2 photocatalyst for water purification. Water Res 45:2095–2103
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Gerba, C.P. (2013). Silver as Disinfectant. In: Kretsinger, R.H., Uversky, V.N., Permyakov, E.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1533-6_529
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1533-6_529
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-1532-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-1533-6
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences