A powerful weapon against microorganisms - Prolen® Siltex with silver and Prolen® Bodyfresh with zinc
5 November, 2021

Silver is a historical and well-documented antimicrobial agent that has been proven to reduce bacteria, fungi and viruses. In the case of Prolen® Medical antimicrobial fabrics and Prolen® Siltex fibers, it is the positively charged silver ions (AG+) that have antimicrobial properties and are fixed in the fiber mass. The silver ions are attached to a ceramic carrier.

This hygroscopic material releases silver ions when in contact with a humid environment/water. The silver ions thus inactivate the microbes. The amount of silver is sufficient to withstand moisture over a long period and product life cycle.

Microorganisms need to continuously convert nutrients into energy to ensure their growth, reproduction and expansion. The antimicrobial silver ion component in Prolen Medical textiles penetrates cell walls and attacks the cellular functions of microorganisms, resulting in their inability to take up nutrients and reproduce.

Our technology has multiple mechanisms of action against microorganisms. Several studies report that silver ions act on bacteria by different mechanisms:

  1. Silver ions (AG+) bind to the bacterial wall, blocking the transport of substances in and out of the cell.
  2. Silver ions are transported into the bacterial cell where they block the respiratory system and thus destroy energy production. As a consequence, the membrane of the bacterial cell ruptures and the bacterium is thus destroyed.
  3. In the bacterial wall, silver ions interact with the bacteria's DNA to prevent cell division and consequently stop reproduction.

All our products have been tested and are in compliance with the health safety standards STN 80 0055:2004 and the European Commission Regulation 1907/2006 (REACH) and their effectiveness has been proven by independent research institutions.