Anti-microbial articles and methods of using same

1. An article comprising:

an occlusive layer; and

a substrate having a nanostructured surface, wherein the nanostructured surface comprises random anisotropic nanostructures;

wherein nanostructures are formed from the substrate to produce the nanostructured surface;

wherein the nanostructured surface is coated with a metal oxide layer;

wherein the metal oxide layer comprises a metal oxide;

wherein the metal oxide layer comprises less than 40 wt.% non-oxidized metal.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from silver oxide, copper oxide, gold oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide and combinations thereof.

3. The article of claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide is silver oxide.

4. The article of claim 3 , wherein the silver oxide is Ag 2 O.

5. The article of claim 4 , wherein Ag + release concentration of the article is more than 3.5 ppm.

6. The article of claim 5 , wherein Ag + release concentration of the article is more than 5 ppm.

7. The article of claim 6 , wherein Ag + release concentration of the article is more than 8 ppm.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein the anisotropic nanostructure has an aspect ratio greater than 2:1.

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide layer is formed by physical vapor deposition.

10. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits a more than 4 log reduction of bacterial growth within 7 days.

11. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits a more than 6 log reduction of bacterial growth within 7 days.

12. A method of use of the article of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

providing the article of claim 1 ; and

applying the article to a subject;

wherein the article exhibits a more than 4 log reduction of bacterial growth within 7 days.