A new silver-loaded cellulosic fiber with antifungal and antibacterial properties.

The skin is the interface between the body and the environment. Each skin type has a specific skin physiology and is more or less adapted for protection against multiple stress factors. Textiles on the other hand are the tissues with the longest contact with the human skin. They play a critical role especially in skin conditions with an increased rate of bacterial and fungal infections like atopic dermatitis or hyperhidrosis, diabetic patients and aged skin. The present study demonstrates the antifungal and antibacterial effect of Sea Cell(R) Active in an in vitro test system against Candida albicans (DSM 11225), Candida tropicalis (ATCC 1169) and Candida krusei (ATCC 6258). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of fibers with different amounts of Sea Cell Active fibers could be demonstrated in a dose-dependent manner against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 22923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218). Whether this fiber seems to be suited for bioactive textiles in specific anatomical body regions and skin conditions with a susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections, namely Candida species, S. aureus and E. coli, must be examined by means of further investigations, especially human in vivo tests considering allergic and toxic effects of the fiber.