By: GadiBorkow and Jeffrey Gabbay


Copper has been used as a biocide by Celts, Hindus, Americanpioneers and Japanese, as well as by inhabitants of Africa and Asia for treating sores and skin diseases (1). Today, soluble copper compounds are used asbactericides, algaecides, fungicides or molluscicides. Copper has also been shownto inactivate a variety of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses (2).




Figure 1. Socks containing 12% copperimpregnated fibers were washed up to 100 consecutive times by using AATCC testmethod (TM) 150. The copper impregnated fibers were analyzed by scanningelectronic microscope (SEM). The amount of copper particles throughout the fiberswas not changed. Moreover, as shown in the lower SEM picture, there was noreduction in copper oxide particles in socks used and worn 75 times.




Figure 2. The biocidal efficacy following consecutive washes of a fabric made from a 50/50 polyester/cotton blend. Fifty percent of the polyester fibers were impregnated with 1% (weight/weight) copper oxide particles.

The test method used to determine the biocidal efficacy of the fabrics before and after washings was the AATCC TM 100. The tests were conducted by an independent laboratory (AminoLab, Rehovot, Israel). The

fabrics were exposed to Staphylococcus aureus and to Escherichia coli for 4 hours and to Candida albicans for 24hours.


Utilizing the properties of copper, two durable platform technologies were developed: the first one plates cotton fibers with copper oxide and the second one impregnates polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyolefin, or nylon fibers with copper oxide. Both technologies endow the fibers with potent broad-spectrum anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-mite properties (3, 4).

 


Figure 3. a) Antiviral non-woven mask containing 3% copper impregnated polypropylene fibers (w/w). b) Antifungal and antibacterial socks that cure athletes foot. These socks received the approval of the American Podiatric Medical Association. The soles of the socks contain 12% copper impregnated polyester

fibers with 1% (w/w) copper oxide content.


The potency and the kill rate of the fabrics depend on the final percentage and load of the copper oxide plated or impregnated fibers in the fabrics. The biocidal properties of the fabrics are permanent and Sustained even following washing and use (Figures 1 and 2). Animal and human studies have demonstrated that these fibers do not possess skin sensitization properties (3,4). This technology thus facilitates the production of anti-viral masks (Fig 3a), gloves and filters (which deactivate HIV-1, flu and other viruses; Ref 3); anti-bacterial fabrics (which kill antibiotic resistant bacteria, including MRSA and VRE; Ref 3 and 4); anti-fungal socks (which cure athletes foot; Fig 3b, Ref 4 and manuscript in preparation); anti-dust mite mattress-covers (which reduce mite-related allergies; Ref 3) and gauze (which is highly effective in promoting skin regeneration, closure of chronic wounds and the alleviation of bed sores; manuscript in preparation).


References


  1. Dollwet, H. H. A. and Sorenson, J. R. J. (2001) Trace Elements in Medicine 2, 80-87.
  2. Borkow, G., and Gabbay, J. (2005) Copper as a biocidal tool. Current Medicinal Chemistry 12(18):2163-75.
  3. Borkow, G., and Gabbay, J. (2004) Putting copper into action: copper impregnated products with
  4. potent biocidal activities. FASEB Journal. 18: 1728-1730.
  5. Gabbay, J., Mishal, J., Magen, E., Zatcoff, R., Shemer-Avni, Y., and Borkow, G. (2006) Copper
  6. Oxide Impregnated Textiles with Potent Biocidal Activities. Journal of Industrial Textiles. In press


The authors are associated with Cupron Inc., USA


Originally published in New Cloth Market: January 2010