Antimicrobial compositions
An antimicrobial composition is provided having a mole ratio of equivalents of silver ion to equivalents of anion of greater than 1. The invention further relates to antimicrobial compositions composed of silver ions and silver salt particles. Also provided are methods for using the compositions of the invention for the treatment of a subject, and methods for conferring antimicrobial protection to an object.
1. An antimicrobial composition comprising: (a) anion donating salt; (b) silver ion donating salt; (c) at least 80% water as a solvent; and (d) hydrophilic polymer wherein the mole ratio of equivalents of silver ion donating salt to equivalents of anion donating salt in the composition is greater than 1, the composition having a silver content ranging from 0.0001 and 0.01 mole/liter and comprising silver salt particles and free silver ions.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silver ion donating salt is selected from the group consisting of silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver citrate, and silver sulfate.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more active agents.
4. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more active agents are selected from the group consisting of antimicrobials, antibiotics, antivirals, enzymes, proteins and growth factors.
5. An antimicrobial composition comprising: (a) anion; (b) silver ion; (c) at least 80% water as a solvent; and (d) hydrophilic polymer wherein the mole ratio of equivalents of silver ion to equivalents of anion in the composition is greater than 1, the composition having a silver content ranging from 0.0001 and 0.01 mole/liter and comprising silver salt particles and free silver ions.
6. The composition according to claim 5 , further comprising one or more active agents.
7. The composition according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more active agents are selected from the group consisting of antimicrobials, antibiotics, antivirals, enzymes, proteins and growth factors.