Silver-containing antimicrobial articles and methods of manufacture

1. A packaged antimicrobial article, comprising:

an antimicrobial article comprising a silver nitrate oxidizable substrate, wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver sulfate and silver metal in the zero-valent state; and

packaging having the antimicrobial article sealed therein;

wherein the antimicrobial article is color stable during and after irradiation; and

wherein the packaging comprises material having a volatile organic content of no greater than 100 mg per square meter;

wherein if the antimicrobial article includes a stabilizing agent, the stabilizing agent is present in an amount of less than 100 parts per million; and

wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate ranges from 0.001 mg/cm 2 to 5 mg/cm 2 and the total amount of stabilizing agent is less than the total amount of silver.

2. The packaged article of claim 1 which has a whitish color and activated carbon sealed with the article within the packaging.

3. The packaged article of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a cellulosic material.

4. The packaged article of claim 3 wherein the substrate comprises cotton.

5. The packaged article of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a nonwoven gauze, a woven gauze, a porous film, a nonporous film, a knitted fabric, foam, or a hydrocolloid.

6. The packaged article of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial article is maintained in an environment of no more than 50% RH at room temperature.

7. The packaged article of claim 6 wherein the antimicrobial article is maintained in an environment of no more than 30% RH at room temperature.

8. The packaged article of claim 1 wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver compounds other than silver sulfate.

9. The packaged article of claim 8 wherein the silver compounds are selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver citrate, silver chloride, silver lactate, silver phosphate, silver stearate, silver thiocyanate, silver carbonate, silver saccharinate, silver anthranilate, silver benzoate, and combinations thereof.

10. The packaged article of claim 1 wherein the packaging comprises material having an oxygen permeability of less than 0.01 cubic centimeter per 645 square centimeters per 24 hours.

11. The packaged article of claim 1 wherein the packaging comprises material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than 0.01 gram per 645 square centimeters per 24 hours.

12. A packaged antimicrobial article, comprising:

an antimicrobial article comprising a cellulosic substrate, wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver sulfate and silver metal in the zero-valent state; and

packaging having the antimicrobial article sealed therein;

wherein the antimicrobial article is color stable during and after irradiation; and

wherein the packaging comprises material having a volatile organic content of no greater than 100 mg per square meter;

wherein if the antimicrobial article includes a stabilizing agent, the stabilizing agent is present in an amount of less than 100 parts per million; and

wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate ranges from 0.001 mg/cm 2 to 5 mg/cm 2 and the total amount of stabilizing agent is less than the total amount of silver.

13. The packaged article of claim 12 wherein the substrate comprises cotton.

14. A packaged antimicrobial article, comprising:

an antimicrobial article comprising a silver nitrate oxidizable substrate, wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver sulfate and silver metal in the zero-valent state; and

packaging having the antimicrobial article sealed therein;

wherein the antimicrobial article is color stable during and after irradiation; and

wherein the packaging comprises material having a volatile organic content of no greater than 100 mg per square meter;

wherein if the antimicrobial article includes a stabilizing agent, the stabilizing agent is present in an amount of less than 100 parts per million (ppm);

wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate is at least 167 ppm.

15. The packaged antimicrobial article of claim 14 wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate is 167 ppm to 1.25×10 6 ppm.

16. A packaged antimicrobial article, comprising:

an antimicrobial article comprising a cellulosic substrate, wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver sulfate and silver metal in the zero-valent state; and

packaging having the antimicrobial article sealed therein;

wherein the antimicrobial article is color stable during and after irradiation; and

wherein the packaging comprises material having a volatile organic content of no greater than 100 mg per square meter;

wherein if the antimicrobial article includes a stabilizing agent, the stabilizing agent is present in an amount of less than 100 parts per million (ppm);

wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate is at least 167 ppm.

17. The packaged antimicrobial article of claim 16 wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate is 167 ppm to 1.25×10 6 ppm.

18. A packaged antimicrobial article, comprising:

an antimicrobial article comprising a silver nitrate oxidizable substrate, wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver sulfate and silver metal in the zero-valent state; and

packaging having the antimicrobial article sealed therein;

wherein the antimicrobial article is color stable during and after irradiation; and

wherein the packaging comprises material having a volatile organic content of no greater than 100 mg per square meter;

wherein if the antimicrobial article includes a stabilizing agent, the stabilizing agent is present in an amount of less than 100 parts per million; and

wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate ranges from 0.001 mg/cm 2 to 5 mg/cm 2 , the substrate basis weight is 5 g/m 2 to 1000 g/m 2 and the total amount of stabilizing agent is less than the total amount of silver.

19. The packaged antimicrobial article of claim 18 wherein the substrate basis weight is 5 g/m 2 to 200 g/m 2 .

20. The packaged antimicrobial article of claim 19 wherein the substrate basis weight is 40 g/m 2 to 60 g/m 2 .

21. A packaged antimicrobial article, comprising:

an antimicrobial article comprising a cellulosic substrate, wherein the substrate has disposed thereon silver sulfate and silver metal in the zero-valent state; and

packaging having the antimicrobial article sealed therein;

wherein the antimicrobial article is color stable during and after irradiation; and

wherein the packaging comprises material having a volatile organic content of no greater than 100 mg per square meter;

wherein if the antimicrobial article includes a stabilizing agent, the stabilizing agent is present in an amount of less than 100 parts per million;

wherein the silver sulfate concentration on the substrate ranges from 0.001 mg/cm 2 to 5 mg/cm 2 , the substrate basis weight is 5 g/m 2 to 1000 g/m 2 and the total amount of stabilizing agent is less than the total amount of silver.

22. The packaged antimicrobial article of claim 21 wherein the substrate basis weight is 5 g/m 2 to 200 g/m 2 .

23. The packaged antimicrobial article of claim 22 wherein the substrate basis weight is 40 g/m 2 to 60 g/m 2 .