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Copper Oxide Impregnated Textiles with Potent Biocidal Activities

Cupron Inc., POB 10973, Greensboro, NC 27404, USA

Gadi Borkow

Cupron Inc., POB 10973, Greensboro, NC 27404, USA, gadi{at}cupron.com

Joseph Mishal

Medicine B and Infectious Diseases Unit, Barzilai Medical Center, Ben Gurion University, Ashkelon 78306, Israel

Eli Magen

Medicine B and Infectious Diseases Unit, Barzilai Medical Center, Ben Gurion University, Ashkelon 78306, Israel

Richard Zatcoff

Upstate Podiatry, 727 SE Main Street, Ste 380, Simpsonville, SC 29681, USA

Yonat Shemer-Avni

Department of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel

Impregnation or coating of cotton and polyester fibers with cationic copper endows them with potent broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimite properties (Borkow, G. and Gabbay, J. (2004). Putting Copper into Action: Copper-impregnated Products with Potent Biocidal Activities, FASEB Jounal, 18(14): 1728-1730). This durable platform technology enables the mass production of woven and non-woven fabrics, such as sheets, pillow covers, gowns, socks, air filters, mattress covers, carpets, etc. without the need of altering any industrial procedures or machinery, but only the introduction of copper oxide-treated fibers. The biocidal properties of fabrics containing 3-10% copper-impregnated fibers are permanent, are not affected by extreme washing conditions, and do not interfere with the manipulation of the final products (e.g., color, press, etc.). In this article, the authors describe data showing that (i) antifungal socks containing 10% w/w (weight/weight) copper-impregnated fibers alleviate athlete’s foot; (ii) antimicrobial fabrics (sheets) containing 10% (w/w) copper-impregnated fibers decrease bacterial colonization in a clinical setting; and (iii) these products do not have skin-sensitizing properties or any other adverse effects. Taken together, these results demonstrate the wide preventive and curative potential of copper oxide-impregnated apparel products.

Key Words: copper oxide • biocidal • antibacterial • athlete’s foot • nosocomial infections

Journal of Industrial Textiles, Vol. 35, No. 4, 323-335 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1528083706060785


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