TOUCHAB VS. ANTIMICROBIAL NANOTECHNOLOGY
Antimicrobial Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing science that offers a strong defense against microbial proliferation. However, concerns surrounding its negative effects on both humans and the environment mean TOUCHAB NOT to utilize antimicrobial nanotechnologies.
What Is Antimicrobial Nanotechnology?
Antimicrobial nanotechnologies are formulations that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Typically, they are characterized by a particle size of less than 100 nm.
Nanotechnology and Nanosilver: What Are the Concerns?
Silver has long been known for its ability to disrupt the growth of microbes. In the last decade alone, the use of nanosilver as an antibacterial agent has expanded dramatically with applications in yoga mats, cutting boards and a range of other products.
Despite being able to effectively fight microbial growth, studies have shown that nanosilver products have a tendency to leach, dispersing harmful nanoparticles into the environment and posing a potential risk to human health.
Nanosilver: Health Effects
Silver nanoparticles are the most common commercialized nano technological product on the market. Due to its unique antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles have been hailed as a breakthrough germ killing agent and have been incorporated into a number of consumer products such as clothing, kitchenware, toys and cosmetics. Many consider silver to be more toxic than other metals when in nanoscale form and that these particles have a different toxicity mechanism compared to dissolved silver. Scientists have concluded that nanoparticles can pass easily into cells and affect cellular function, depending on their shape and size. However, little has been done to evaluate these interactions and their health impacts on humans. Preliminary research with laboratory rats has found that silver nanoparticles can traverse into the brain, and can induce neuronal degeneration and necrosis (death of cells or tissue) by accumulating in the brain over a long period of time. Other potential harmful effects include the generation of dangerous radicals that injure cells by attacking DNA, proteins and membranes. Due to their size, these particles can readily penetrate the body and cells through various routes.
Routes of Exposure
Inhalation:
Nanoparticles can become airborne easily due to their size and mass. When inhaled, nanoparticles can go deeper into the lungs reaching more sensitive areas. There they inflame the lungs, which must work harder in attempts to remove the foreign particles. It is still unknown whether these particles can be removed by the lungs or whether they remain as deposits within lung tissue. Research is still ongoing to investigate whether nanosize particles cause pulmonary inflammation as well as systemic effects, and whether they translocate from the lungs to other organs such as the liver, kidney or brain.
Skin Absorption:
This route of exposure occurs mainly through cosmetics, sunscreens, textiles and clothing imbedded with silver nanoparticles. Nano particles are known to be absorbed by the skin. Broken skin, or skin with cuts and wounds, may give rise to easier and direct absorption of nanoparticles into the blood stream and translocation in the body. The fate and effects of these particles on, and within the skin and human body are not clearly understood. Other problems still to be investigated include the interference with resident microflora on the skin.
Ingestion:
This type of exposure can come about through hand to mouth transfer of particles from products imbedded with nano silver or from food and food packaging. Ingestion of particles can also arise due to respiratory clearing actions of inhaled particles. Little to no information is available for the fate and effects of silver nanoparticles within the digestive track. However, observations in laboratory animals have documented that uptake of particles from the digestive track into the lymphatic and circulatory systems can occur. Uptake also seems to primarily occur in the intestines and is dependent on size. While the health impacts are still unknown, the fact that the digestive process utilizes beneficial bacteria to assist in the digestive process, the presence of silver nanoparticles may undoubtedly have an adverse impact of these native bacterial populations.
TOUCHAB Antimicrobial Technology: Why Is It Safer?
The safety of antibacterial agents has always been our principle.
TOUCHAB antibacterial agent is closely integrated with the product, unlike nanosilver products have a risk to leach.
TOUCHAB antibacterial has passed the strict biocompatibility safety test of Japan SIAA Antibacterial Products Association. It has no oral toxicity, no carcinogenicity, no skin irritation and sensitivity. TOUCHAB is an antibacterial agent with excellent safety.
If you would like more information about customized antimicrobial solution, contact us now.
