PUTTING COPPER INTO ACTION: COPPER-IMPREGNATED PRODUCTS WITH POTENT BIOCIDAL ACTIVITIES

Copper ions, either alone or in copper complexes, have been used for centuries to disinfect liquids, solids, and human tissue. Today copper is used as a water purifier, algaecide, fungicide, nematocide, molluscicide, and antibacterial and antifouling agent. Copper also displays potent antiviral activity.

The study demonstrates the potential uses of copper in new applications that address medical concerns of the greatest importance.The authors hypothesized that introducing copper into clothing, bedding, and other articles would provide them with biocidal properties. A durable platform technology has been developed that introduces copper into cotton fibers, latex, and other polymeric materials. This study demonstrates the broad-spectrum antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal) and antimite activities of copper-impregnated fibers and polyester products.

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Authors: Gadi Borkow PhD, J. Gabbay. The FASEB Journal, Sep. 2, 2004