Colloidal Silver: Out of Alternative Medicine and into Science
Colloidal silver and silver nanoparticles are stepping away from their traditional use as alternative medicines. The new face of colloidal silver is much more cutting-edge and is making a big impact on the world of science. From microelectronics and information storage to optics, biotechnology, catalysis and energy conversion, silver colloid is an intriguing substance which has great potential. Here, we’ll explore some of the more exciting scientific uses of silver colloid and why their use as dubious natural medicines could soon be a thing of the past.
Traditional uses of colloidal silver
Silver has long been known to have strong antibacterial properties. In the years before antibiotics became prevalent, colloidal silver was often used to perform antibacterial functions in their place. Unfortunately the constant use of silver can cause a condition known as Argyria. This condition causes silver salt deposits to build up in the eyes, the skin and in internal organs, turning patients’ skin an ash grey colour and resulting in a number of other health issues.
Doctors soon stopped using colloidal silver in this way, but even in the 21st century, the alternative medicine community continues to push silver colloid as a miraculous cure-all. Across the world the substance is recommended as a remedy for everything from AIDS to acne, haemorrhoids to cancer. There is no real scientific basis for such claims, and it has harmed the reputation of colloidal silver for some time. Things are changing however, as new research unveils previously unknown functions and possibilities in science and technology…
Doctors soon stopped using colloidal silver in this way, but even in the 21st century, the alternative medicine community continues to push silver colloid as a miraculous cure-all. Across the world the substance is recommended as a remedy for everything from AIDS to acne, haemorrhoids to cancer. There is no real scientific basis for such claims, and it has harmed the reputation of colloidal silver for some time. Things are changing however, as new research unveils previously unknown functions and possibilities in science and technology…
Silver nanoparticles and technology
Away from the medical sphere, researchers have been discovering brand new and incredibly exciting uses for silver nanoparticles. Earlier this year in January, researchers successfully created a revolutionary memory device which uses a film of DNA, embedded with silver nanoparticles, all squashed between a pair of electrodes. When placed under a UV light, this device undergoes a process which makes the silver nanoparticles cluster, allowing data encoding. This may be a new and much cheaper alternative to silicon chips!
Micro-electronics, information storage, energy conversion – you name it – colloidal silver is finding new functions in a wide range of industries and contexts. With increasingly strict regulations on the use of silver colloid for alternative medicine, including fines for misleading and even dangerous marketing and advertising of the project as an alternative therapy, the future of this substance is turning away from its more questionable past and starting a ‘new life’ as a valuable technological tool.
Micro-electronics, information storage, energy conversion – you name it – colloidal silver is finding new functions in a wide range of industries and contexts. With increasingly strict regulations on the use of silver colloid for alternative medicine, including fines for misleading and even dangerous marketing and advertising of the project as an alternative therapy, the future of this substance is turning away from its more questionable past and starting a ‘new life’ as a valuable technological tool.
Conclusion
You’ll now find silver colloid in medical equipment, batteries, bone cement, optics, electronics and so on. These are exciting times for those working with silver nanoparticles and we can all expect to see even more developments and new breakthroughs! So keep your eyes peeled for even more about colloidal silver in the future.
To learn more about colloidal silver, or to purchase high quality silver nanoparticles and silver colloid for your own research, visit BuyBBI today.
To learn more about colloidal silver, or to purchase high quality silver nanoparticles and silver colloid for your own research, visit BuyBBI today.