Modern bandages use silver ions to kill bacteria by suffocating them and cutting off their energy supply.

The use of silver for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years, with ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans using silver vessels to keep water fresh. In modern medicine, silver-impregnated dressings became a standard of care for burn victims in the 1960s, particularly after the development of silver sulfadiazine. These bandages work through a process called the oligodynamic effect, where even low concentrations of metal ions exert a lethal effect on living cells, algae, and bacteria.When silver ions (Ag+) are released from a bandage into a moist wound environment, they bind to the bacterial cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. This binding increases the permeability of the cell envelope, causing the bacterial cell to literally leak its contents. Once inside the cell, silver ions bind to bacterial DNA and RNA, which inhibits cell division and prevents the bacteria from replicating.Furthermore, silver ions specifically target the respiratory chain of the bacteria. They bind to thiol groups in metabolic enzymes, particularly those involved in the electron transport chain. This effectively suffocates the bacteria by blocking their ability to transport electrons and produce ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell. Because silver attacks the cell at multiple points—membrane, DNA, and enzymes—it is extremely difficult for bacteria to develop resistance compared to single-target antibiotics.A study published in the journal 'International Wound Journal' highlights that silver dressings can reduce bacterial load in chronic wounds by up to 99 percent within 24 hours. Research from institutions like the University of Manchester has confirmed that silver remains effective against antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA. Today, silver technology is integrated into everything from surgical sutures to catheters to prevent healthcare-associated infections.