Acticoat

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7 March 2013

Smith & Nephew

USA

Health and Fitness

Personal Care

"ACTICOAT◊ is a potent antimicrobial barrier dressing. The Nanocrystalline coating of silver rapidly kills a broad spectrum of bacteria in as little as 30 minutes. ACTICOAT◊ consists of three layers: an absorbent inner core sandwiched between outer layers of silver coated, low adherent polyethylene net. Nanocrystalline † silver protects the wound site from bacterial colonization while the inner core helps maintain moist wound environment."

"Acticoat consists of two layers of a silver-coated, high-density polyethylene mesh, enclosing a single layer of an apertured non-woven fabric of rayon and polyester. The three components are ultrasonically welded together to maintain the integrity of the dressing in use. Silver is applied to the polyethylene mesh by a vapour deposition process, which results in the formation of microscopic `nanocrystals' of metallic silver. In this nanocrystalline form, metallic silver exhibits pronounced antibacterial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including strains resistant to many types of antibiotics. It is also effective against clinically important strains of yeasts and fungi."

"Silver can be found in gels, creams, powders or emulsions and, especially in dressings. Applied to serious wounds such as burns, these dressings differ in terms of composition, rate of release and mode of action of the active metabolite."

Silver

Antimicrobial protection
Health applications

Surface bound particles

Dermal

Category 2 (Verified claim)