HOW CAN NANO SILVER FIGHT AGAINST POTENTIALLY DEADLY VIRAL INFECTIONS?

While silver’s well-known toxicity to a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens has been thoroughly documented in previous research by many leading research facilities, this study takes the previous research to a whole new level. How can nano silver fight against potentially deadly viral infections?

For the first time, the long-proven antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles were applied to a highly infectious form of virus with no known cure. And the interaction between the metallic particles, the virus, and the cells were studied.

The scientists tested a variety of particle sizes. And they also tested the idea of coating the tiny silver particles with several different surface chemistries including a “foamy carbon matrix,” a polymer, and a protein molecule. The goal was to determine if any of these substances would help stabilize the silver particles and aid the silver’s anticipated reaction with the virus.

What they discovered, however, is that only the ‘free surface’ silver nanoparticles in the range of 1 to 10 nanometers interacted with the HIV-1 cells.

1.Silver Nanoparticles Rule!

The very smallest silver particles inactivated the virus’ ability to bond with the host cells – google image

This basically means the silver needed no help from the other substances. In fact, anything added to the basic silver nanoparticle served only to prevent the metal’s interaction with the viral microorganism!

What’s more, according to the study, only the very smallest silver particles inactivated the virus’ ability to bond with the host cells. Larger particles did not.

Ultimately the study found that the tiny silver nanoparticles no larger than 10 nm were able to bond to the deadly viral microorganisms and prevented the virus from bonding with the host cell. No bonding to host cell, no viral infection!

2.A Silver Cathode-Electrode That Helps Fights AIDS and Other Serious Infections!

Actually, silver’s unique ability to inactivate deadly viruses such as the AIDS virus has been known for several decades. The above study merely confirmed what had already been known among cutting edge medical researchers.

For example, three years before the above study was completed, a Reading, PA company called Arrow International, Inc. developed and patented a new catheter-electrode system that uses a low-intensity electrical current to push bacteria and virus-fighting silver ions directly into the human bloodstream. According to the company press release:

“The catheter combines a silver electrode inserted into the patient’s bloodstream with a second electrode placed on the nearby skin. The combined action releases silver ions into the blood for immediate reaction with pathogens such as HIV viruses. The silver ions do not attack normal human cells because these cells have protective walls, which is not the case for bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Studies revealed in U.S. Patent, No. 6,066,489 assigned to Arrow International, Inc. of Reading, Pennsylvania show improvement by HIV patients treated with in-blood silver ions. One patient prior to treatment had over two million copies of the HIV virus per milliliter of blood and had an infection fighter cell (T4 cells) count of 18. The patient was experiencing serious kidney malfunction. Within 24 hours after silver ion treatment, the HIV virus count dropped to about one million copies and T4 cells fell to 11. One month after treatment began, the HIV virus count was again halved and the Patient’s overall health improved.

The catheter-electrode system is intended to be a universal aid in treating blood-borne infections otherwise extremely difficult to treat or cure once infection has begun. Blood-borne viruses can completely overwhelm a patient, defeating the immune system and leading to death. The catheter electrode is 97.8 percent silver, 2 percent Platinum, and 0.2 percent copper. The silver supplies the active silver ion; platinum acts as a catalyst to aid in the release of the silver ions and prevents a buildup of oxides on the electrode. Copper controls the release rate of the silver from the electrode. The small amount of silver introduced into the patient’s bloodstream, and the extremely low levels of current, are both highly effective and physiologically safe.”

Fascinating, right? But wait a minute. That particular technique for destroying the AIDS virus in the human body was actually invented a long time ago. Only it used pure silver electrodes rather than silver, platinum, and copper electrodes. Here’s the story…

3.Silver Ions Used to Successfully Treat and Cure AIDS in Mexico

Silver Ions used to successfully treat and cure AIDS in Mexico – google image

According to this article by Dr. Charles D. Beal, M.D., a system involving the use of electrically generated silver ions delivered via a medicS victims has successfully been used in Mexico to treat and cure AIDS patients, as far back as 1989.

It all started with Dr. Philip Burris, Ph.D., who decided to apply the technique invented by the renowned physician and electro-medical researcher Dr. Robert O. Becker, MD of Syracuse Medical University. Becker had discovered a way to use low intensity direct electrical current (LIDC) to produce silver ions inside of the human body, in order to heal infections. He had used the technique to cure numerous so-called “incurable” bone infections (i.e., including antibiotic-resistant osteomyelitis) simply by surgically opening the patient up, debriding the infected area of bone, stuffing silver mesh into the infected area, and attaching low-voltage electrodes to the silver mesh, thus using micro-amps of electricity to drive tiny pure silver ions deep into the infected tissue and bone of his patients.

Dr. Burris wondered if a similar technique could be used successfully to treat AIDS victims. He started by talking a research veterinarian into applying the technique to a cat that was dying from the Feline Leukemia Virus (FLV). The treatment consisted of using a catheter to insert a length of pure silver wire into the superior vena cava, through a jugular vein. The researcher then ran a low-intensity electrical current through the silver wire so that silver ions were produced directly into the cat’s bloodstream. Within weeks of the treatment, the cat made a full recovery.

Later, Dr. Cesar Garcia Ramirez, MD, decided to try the same treatment on some of his dying AIDS patients. Quoting the article:

“Cesar Garcia Ramirez, MD, practicing in Tijuana, became aware of the FIV treatment, and felt that it would be a compassionate act to at least try the therapy on some of his dying AIDS patients. He obtained permission from the Baja California Division of Public Health, as well as agreement for the treatment protocol from a group of physicians serving as the Institutional Review Board (Human Studies Committee). Volunteer patients were fully informed and signed consent forms. Initially, three very ill patients were chosen.

Silver electrodes in silicon rubber catheters were placed in arm veins and passed up as far as the vena cava, or near to it. Each patient was treated for 12 minutes at 2.5 microamps, then for 72 hours at 125 microamps except that one patient was treated for only 48 hours. All three patients felt better by the second day, and considerably better by Day 5. Viral loads dropped precipitously, almost to zero in one patient and much lower than the initial count in the other two.”

This took place sometime after 1989. But several years before that, a patent was filed with the US Patent Office for another novel method of using silver against AIDS – this time to prevent the AIDs virus from infecting a person during the sexual act. Here’s the story…

4.A Patent for a Novel Method of Using Silver to Prevent AIDS Infections During Sex

In 1988, this patent for “A method of inhibiting the transmission of AIDS virus in humans upon sexual intercourse which comprises topically applying an effective antiviral amount of silver sulfadiazine to a sexual canal of a human prior to or during sexual intercourse” was filed with the US Patent Office, application number EP19880301620.

The patent is based in part on a study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 132, No. 1, July 1975, pages 79-81, titled, “In vitro activity of silver sulfadiazine against Herpesvirus hominis,” which apparently demonstrated the effectiveness of silver sulfadiazine against human herpes virus.

Silver sulfadiazine, of course, is the well-known silver-based prescription cream known commercially as Silvadene, which in burn wards around the world is routinely applied to the skin of burn victims in order to prevent their burnt flesh from becoming infected. It is composed of a 1% solution of silver suspended in a water-soluble cream base.

According to the patent:

“…silver sulfadiazine is an antibacterial agent useful in treating burns in man and animal. Silver sulfadiazine is also known to be effective against certain viruses, such as herpes simplex and herpes zoster. Silver sulfadiazine is further known to be effective against treponema pallidum [i.e., syphilis – ED] and gonorrhea, and is spermicidal.

It has now been found quite unexpectedly that silver sulfadiazine is an effective antiviral agent against the AIDS virus. Accordingly, the method of the present invention of inhibiting the transmission of AIDS virus in humans upon sexual intercourse comprises topically applying an effective antiviral amount of silver sulfadiazine to a sexual canal of a human prior to or during sexual intercourse. The known effectiveness of silver sulfadiazine against gonorrhea assists in its effectiveness in inhibiting the transmission of AIDS virus.

As noted above, the method of the present invention of inhibiting the transmission of AIDS virus in humans upon sexual intercourse comprises topically applying an effective antiviral amount of silver sulfadiazine to a sexual canal of a human prior to or during sexual intercourse. The sexual canal can be a vaginal canal or an anal canal.”

In other words, according to the patent holder, simply applying this particular form of silver cream to the sexual canal prior to sexual intercourse, or during sexual intercourse, inhibits the transmission of the AIDS virus!

Amazing, isn’t it? Silver has clearly been known by modern medical science to be effective against serious and even deadly viruses such as HIV since the 1980s. But it’s not just the AIDs virus that silver has been demonstrated to be effective against in studies. Many other viral pathogens are also either completed inactivated or even destroyed by silver.

5.Colloidal Silver Shows Efficacy Against Smallpox Virus

In this study, published in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal back in September 1992, it was found that that several different preparations of colloidal silver showed amazing efficacy against the smallpox virus.

Two medical colloidal silver preparations were used, one called Collargol, and one called Protargol. The latter was apparently a diluted preparation.

The study showed a 700 times reduction in the concentration of viral particles when Protargol was applied, and by a whopping 11,000 times reduction in viral particles when the more highly concentrated Collargol was applied.

6.Silver Inactivates Herpes Simplex Type I and II

the Herpes Simplex Virus types I and II were totally inactivated by low concentrations of silver nitrate – google image

Going back even further, a study conducted in 1972 at the Department of Microbiology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, it was demonstrated that the Herpes Simplex Virus types I and II were totally inactivated by low concentrations of silver nitrate, which is a more caustic, chemical form of silver.

According to the study, silver nitrate caused so much damage to the viruses, they simply could no longer cause infection.

EPA Approves Use of a Colloidal Silver Spray Disinfectant that Kills Viruses on Surfaces

Moving forward to recent years, even the EPA is now approving silver for certain virucidal purposes.

As reported by the Silver Institute (a group which keeps silver investors appraised of all of the new uses for silver in business and industry), the EPA has recently approved the use of a product called Axen30, a liquid spray disinfectant similar to colloidal silver, for use in child day-care centers, preschools, schools, gymnasiums, and children’s activity centers.

Axen30 is a dilute formula consisting of 30 ppm silver used as a spray disinfectant.

But here’s the interesting part:

The EPA-approved advertising claims for Axen30 include a 30-second kill time and a 24-hour residual kill on standard indicator bacteria, a two-minute kill time on the resistant bacteria MRSE and VRE, a 10-minute kill time on fungi, a 30-second kill time on HIV Type I, and a 10-minute kill time on other viruses.

Now that’s amazing – a 30-second kill time against HIV (i.e., Human Immunodeficiency Virus, aka the AIDS virus), and a ten minute kill time against other viruses!

7.Silver Compound in Countertops Eliminates SARS Virus

Perstorp, a Swedish manufacturing company based in Italy, manufactures a special polymer from which countertops are made. What makes the Perstorp countertop unique is that extremely tiny nanosilver particles are impregnated into the polymer.

Upon human contact, the nanosilver-impregnated polymer begins emitting silver ions. This unique silver ion-emitting polymer was developed for use with products such as toilet seats, doorknobs, and other common contact surfaces.

According to news reports, the compound that was successfully tested by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control against SARS, which has a particular interest in public safety due to the SARS virus outbreaks of the past few years in China.

Zhang Panhe, professor at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in China, recently stated, “We tested the compound against a four-hour, eight– hour, and 24-hour exposure period and found no surviving SARS virus upon 24 hours of exposure to the polymer…”

In other words, when the polymer was purposely contaminated by the SARS virus, it began killing the virus within four hours, and had killed all SARS viruses on the surface within 24 hours.

This special silver-impregnated polymer is now in use in many hospitals, laboratories and medical research facilities throughout China. What’s more, many variants of silver-impregnated polymers are being used in similar medical-related facilities around the world, in order to help stop the spread of potentially deadly bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens.

8.Infectivity of Monkeypox Virus Inhibited by Silver Nanoparticles

According to this study published in volume 3, number 4, April 2008 edition of Nanoscale Research Letters, very small silver particles (10 nm in size) significantly inhibited the infectivity of the Monkeypox virus.

The study was conducted in conjunction with the Applied Biotechnology Branch, Human Effectiveness Directorate of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

The study’s authors concluded, “These results demonstrate that silver-based nanoparticles of approximately 10 nm inhibit Monkey Pox Virus infection in vitro, supporting their potential use as an anti-viral therapeutic.”

According to Wikipedia.com, monkeypox virus is usually transmitted to humans from rodents, pets, and primates through contact with the animal’s blood or through a bite. Its symptoms can be difficult to distinguish clinically from smallpox (to which it is closely related) and chickenpox (to which it is not related).

You may remember news headlines back in 2003 regarding an outbreak of monkeypox virus in the U.S. midwest, among owners of pet prairie dogs.

What this demonstrates is that very tiny micro-particles of silver, known as nanosilver, are even effective against exotic viruses such as those coming from animals! If that doesn’t put you in mind of the recent “Swine Flu” scare, in which the infectious agent was shown to be a hybrid of swine, bird and human viral parts, I don’t know what will.

9.Silver Shows Anti-Viral Efficacy Against Hepatitis B Virus

In a recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Hong Kong, it was demonstrated in vitro (i.e., in the test tube) that very tiny silver particles have the ability to interact with viral DNA in such a way as to prevent replication, whether the virus was inside the host cells (i.e., inside human cells, where viruses would normally replicate) or outside the host cells.

This is especially important because it implies that silver can not only prevent viruses from infecting cells but can also stop cells that are already virally infected from spreading the infection.

According to this research abstract from the University of Hong Kong, the scientists examining the action of silver particles on the Hepatitis B virus “hypothesize that the direct interaction between these nanoparticles and HBV double-stranded DNA or viral particles is responsible for their antiviral mechanism.”

The scientists point out that this only demonstrates the effectiveness of very tiny silver particles against the HBV (i.e., hepatitis B virus), and not necessarily other viruses. Nevertheless, once again we have a study demonstrating conclusively that very tiny particles of silver have the ability to interfere with viruses, preventing them from interacting with human cells and causing infections.

According to a news article about this study, the study found that

“…ultra-tiny silver particles could reduce the extracellular DNA formation of HBVs by over 50 percent, and could check their intracellular RNA formation, too.

‘Silver nano-particles have special properties such as larger active surface and porosity so that they can easily bind with small molecules,’ China’s XINHUA news agency quoted Lu as saying, referring to a hypothetical explanation they had put forward on the new antiviral mechanism.

‘The finding provides a new direction for developing new anti-HBV drugs, with nano-particles used as drug carrier to enhance the antiviral efficacy while minimizing the undesirable side effects,’ Lu told a press conference Monday.

The young researcher said there are currently only two kinds of drugs approved for treating chronic HBV infection, namely immunomodulators and nucleoside analogues. But their uses are affected by side effects and drug-resistant mutations.

Hepatitis B is one of the worst killers as it chronically infects over 400 million people worldwide, with certain developing countries and regions hit hardest.

Lu said silver nano-particles have an additional distinct advantage. It is unlikely that HBV can become resistant to silver nano-particles because the interaction is determined by the physiochemical properties of the tiny particles.”

10.Silver’s Effectiveness Against Flu Viruses

Two highly respected researchers, Dr. Eric Gordon, MD and Dr. Kent Holtorf, MD, writing in the prestigious Townsend Letter for Doctors, believe silver is the answer to many forms of viral infections, including upper respiratory viral infections such as the flu.

They point out in their article titled A Promising Cure for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Pandemics, Including the Avian Flu: Has the Final Solution to the Coming Plagues Been Discovered? that, “the collective authoritative medical literature has documented efficacy of silver’s virotoxicity against over 24 viruses.”

What’s more, the authors state that the 200-plus viral strains known to cause upper respiratory tract infections, including most flu viruses, will also most likely succumb to the powerful antiviral qualities of very small particles of “oligodynamic silver” (i.e., a medical reference to silver being extremely powerful even in small quantities).

In fact, the authors point out that silver is likely going to be the answer to any future global viral pandemic, stating “A broad-spectrum anti-viral agent that really works is needed to combat over 200 viruses that cause Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Undoubtedly oligodynamic silver fits this bill…Emerging medical studies confirm the stellar, broad-spectrum virotoxic efficacy of oligodynamic silver both in vitro and in vivo.”

11.The Nano-Particle Difference: Good News and Bad News

Colloidal Nano Silver

As you’ve seen throughout this report, silver is without a doubt the single-greatest natural antiviral agent on the face of the earth. However, the size of the silver particles is one of the most important factors in the ability of silver to disable, or even decimate, such a broad spectrum of viruses.

Indeed, most of these studies have demonstrated one simple fact: the smaller the silver particles are, the better they work, with silver particles of 10 nanometers (nm) or less in size being the most effective against viruses.