Antibacterial medicines obtained
by using the silver nanoparticles
Konenkov V.I., Burmistrov V.A.*, Rachkovskaia L.N., Borodin Iu.I.
Scientific Research Institute
of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology SB RAMS
*Research and
There is persistent
and constantly growing need for new antimicrobials which will be alternative to
antibiotics. Wide usage of antibiotics has detected a number of negative
factors. First, it is rapid appearance and spread of antibiotic-resistant
microorganism strains. Second, it has been found out that antibiotics have a
bad influence on microbiocoenosis. Moreover they lead
to dysbacteriosis, disturb the intake and uptake of the
nutrients, and weaken the immunity. Finally, antibiotics have no effect on
viruses. It is possible that virus diseases are widespread nowadays just
because of such unreasonably wide usage of antibiotics. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO) the viral etiology diseases account for more than 75%
of the total number of infectious diseases and the percentage is growing. New
dangerous infections appear such as atypical pneumonia, which is caused by coronavirus, bird flu, etc. As a rule the attempts of
prompt production of virus vaccines are unsuccessful due to the ability of viruses
to mutate and evolve rapidly. Mixed infections have become of great interest,
e.g. in case when bacteria become more active in the organism weakened by some
virus. The most illustrative case is HIV infection. The high contagiousness of
viruses considerably increases the risk of epidemics and pandemics. Besides,
rapid development of microbiology and virology, especially of diagnostics, enabled
to determine an essential role of infectious agents (e.g. persistent forms) in the
etiology of many diseases previously regarded as somatic ones. Viral origin of
many oncological diseases has been proved and according
to WHO such diseases account for up to 80% of all oncological cases. The direct relation between peptic ulcer
and anaerobic bacteria Helicobacter pylori has been found out. Many of
cardiovascular diseases, which are the principal cause of mortality in the
world, also appear due to various infectious agents. For instance, cardiotropic enteroviruses and
Coxsackie virus play a considerable role in etiology of rheumatic carditis and non-rheumatic myocarditis.
Chlamydia infection negatively contributes to the development of coronary heart
disease. In other words, considerable number of illnesses either is caused or accompanied
and aggravated by various infection diseases. New approaches and medicines are required
for prevention and treatment of such diverse infections and complex
infectious-somatic diseases. These medicines are supposed to be different from
antibiotics in the way the effect is produced. They should have both
antibacterial activity and antiviral one, and also have a general
health-improving effect on the organism. In this respect the silver-containing medicines [1]
obtained by using the modern nanotechnological achievements
seem to be a promising area.
Bactericidal
properties of silver and its compounds are well known for a long time. Silver
medicines were widely used in 20s-40s of the last century. Being invented more
than 100 years ago such medicines as Collargol and Protargol are used in the medical practice even nowadays. Invention
of antibiotics reduced the interest in silver-containing medicines; antibiotics
became a major concern pretending to be a panacea, but they failed. Meanwhile,
chemistry and biochemistry of silver have advanced within last few years;
antiviral and fungicidal activities, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory
effect of silver medicines have been proved. It has led to renewal of interest
in silver medicines, especially in their new and improved forms. Taking all
this into account we have developed several new methods and techniques of
obtaining silver nanoparticles. Bactericidal and
antiviral activities of obtained silver nanoparticles
have been shown both in vitro and in vivo. Six new silver-containing medicines
have been elaborated and certified using these silver nanoparticles.
Let us describe their properties briefly.
Medicine “Argovit” is clustered silver (nanosilver)
that is a form of colloidal silver with particles of smaller size as compared
with traditional colloidal silver medicines. According to the physicochemical studies
(such as electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering method, various
forms of electron spectroscopy) the average size of initial cluster particles
of silver is about 1.5-2 nm for Argovit, and it
is much smaller than that is for Collargol and Protargol. As a result efficiency of the medicine increases
considerably, moreover it causes the solution aggregative stability. Argovit possesses broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity
against various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, aerobic and anaerobic
bacteria, and also both asporogenic and spore-forming
bacteria in the form of monocultures as well as microbial associations, including
antibiotic-resistant hospital strains. It shows virucidal
and fungicidal activity as well as apparent anti-inflammatory effect. Argovit is certified as a veterinary medical product. It is
administered orally in the form of diluted water solution for prevention and
treatment of various etiology enteric infections for all species of farm
animals, fur-producing animals and poultry regardless of products these animals
and poultry produce. In contrast to antibiotics Argovit
does not lead to dysbacteriosis; in fact, it
facilitates the normalization of organism microbiocenosis.
Argovit has been widely clinical tested in such
fields of medicine as contaminated surgery, traumatology,
combustiology and dermatology. It has proved to be an
effective medicine for inhibition of various pyoinflammatory
processes in wounds, tissues and on skin [3]. Argovit
has appeared to be a good medicine in otorhinolaryngology
for treating various infectious and inflammatory diseases of ear, nose and
throat; ARD and ARVI [4].
Concentrated
cosmetic serum-lotion Argonika is stable aqueous
dispersion of silver nanoparticles with small
addition of chitosan [5]. It is meant for
prevention and treatment of various infectious and inflammatory diseases on the
skin and tissues. Argogel gel and Argokrem
cream are therapeutic and cosmetic agents. They are produced in a form of dispersion
of silver nanoparticles (Argovit)
in the gel matrix or cream base correspondingly. Silver particles remain in the
nanosize range for these agents [2,5], that sets conditions for high bactericidal and
antiviral properties as well as apparent anti-inflammatory effect of these
agents. Argogel and Argokrem
are meant for usage in treatment and preventive cosmetology and dermatology. These
medicines have also been widely clinical tested in contaminated surgery, traumatology, combustiology.
As a result they have proved to be effective medicines for inhibition of
various pyoinflammatory processes.
Cosmetic
preparation “Silver powder” is a therapeutic-and-cosmetic powder based on
kaolin, which is modified by immobilization of silver nanoparticles
(Argovit) on its surface. Cosmetic preparation SIAL-C
is a therapeutic-and-cosmetic powder based on SIAL, which is also modified by Argovit. SIAL is entero- and applicative
sorbent of white color. It is obtained by modifying the aluminum oxide with organic
silicon compounds. SIAL is fine-dispersed powder with particle size of 5-30 µm;
its surface area consists of mesopores and macropores; the specific surface area is up
to 200 m2/g, chemical character of the surface is hydrophilic
hydrophobic [6]. Nowadays sorption detoxification finds a wide application
in various projects of endoecological rehabilitation
of human organism [7,8].
The essence of
applicative sorption (vulnerosorption) lies in
extraction of microbial cells, bacterial toxins and toxic products of tissue
degradation from the surface of affected area. It results in reduction of toxic
load on detoxification organs, first of all regional lymph nodes and lymphatic drainage [7].
Additional bactericidal properties of sorbents enhance the therapeutic effect,
especially if there is any pathogenic flora in the diseased area.
SIAL-C and “Silver
powder” preparations are recommended for use in cosmetology both singly and as
a component of cosmetic and medical compositions, applications, masks. Combined
effect of silver and adsorptive properties of the matrix results in high
efficiency of these preparations. These powders show bactericidal activity as
well as anti-inflammatory and tonic effect, stimulate reparative and metabolic
processes in the skin. They also promote rapid healing of microtraumas,
abrasion and other skin injuries; moreover they have detoxification (cleaning)
effect. These powders are recommended for people of all ages for prevention and
treatment of skin inflammations, acne eruptions, intertrigos
and other skin defects. They could be used as a part of multimodality therapy
for infectious and inflammatory diseases on the skin (e.g. microbial and true
eczema, drug-induced toxicodermia, erysipelases, dermatoses
of various etiologies, complicated by consecutive infection) [6].
References
