Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217594
Title: Silver-Carboxylate Ion-Paired Alginate and Carboxymethylated Cotton with Antimicrobial Activity

Author
item Parikh, Dharnidhar
item Edwards, Judson - Vince
item Condon, Brian
item PARIKH, A.D. - ST. BARNABAS MEDICAL CTR

Submitted to: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Review
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2008
Publication Date: 8/1/2008
Citation: Parikh, D.V., Edwards, J.V., Condon, B.D., Parikh, A. 2008. Silver-Carboxylate Ion-Paired Alginate and Carboxymethylated Cotton with Antimicrobial Activity. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Review. 8(8):38-43.

Interpretive Summary: A half million people receive medical attention for burn injuries each year in the United States of America. Burn and chronic wounds are highly susceptible to infection. Silver has long been known to have antimicrobial properties and has been extensively used in treating burn wounds. The factors that contribute to wound complications are both the size and depth of the wound burn. Burn depth is usually categorized into first degree (superficial, involving only the epidermis), second degree (partial thickness, involving both epidermis and dermis), third degree (full thickness, through epidermis, dermis, and into fat), and fourth degree (damage extends through muscle and bone). Antimicrobial dressings of silver-alginates and silver-sodium-carboxymethylated cotton have been developed at SRRC. The antimicrobial effects of these dressings are evaluated to be effective against both gram positive and gram negative organisms. These dressings may offer a therapeutic advantage over the presently available dressings.

Technical Abstract: Burn and chronic wounds are highly susceptible to infection. Silver has long been known to have antimicrobial properties and has been used extensively in treating burn wounds. Using a cation exchange technique, it was possible to impregnate commercially available alginate dressings and carboxymethylated cotton gauze and cotton printcloth with silver. The antimicrobial silver alginate dressings demonstrated high absorption of physiological saline solution and were effective against both gram positive (Staphylococcous aureus) and gram negative (Klebsiella pneuoniae) microbes. Additionally, the silver bound printcloth retained antimicrobial activity following multiple launderings. Based on these findings it is apparent that commercial alginate and cotton dressings impregnated with silver should have clinical promise in the prevention and treatment of infected wounds.