An Introduction to Nanosilver
In recent years, the term “nanosilver” has been floating around and giving us all major high school chemistry class vibes. While the term may seem like jargon, nanosilver has actually been around for over a hundred years with uses in medicine as well as biocides to prevent the growth of bacteria on surfaces. Silver is a natural antibiotic, which means that it kills bacteria. These benefits have been recognized by people very early on, dating back to wealthy Romans using utensils and plates made of silver. In fact, some historians believe that’s how the term “silverware” came to be!
WHAT IS NANOSILVER?
Nanosilver, is exactly as the same suggests- extremely small particles of silver. How small? The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines a nanoparticle with dimensions less than 100 nanometers (nm). For comparison, a human hair is 40,000-120,000 nm wide! Due to their microscopic size, nanoparticles have different properties than their larger silver counterparts. For a given volume, nanoparticles have a much greater surface area, which makes them more reactive than bulk silver. This means that even in small quantities, nanosilver produces more silver ions than solid silver. It is these silver ions that help prevent bacteria.
BUT IS IT SAFE?
The short answer is yes! Nanosilver itself is nothing new and with a long history, it has been used in consumer and commercial products over the past century. It’s also important to keep in mind that the additions of nanosilver in products are added at a miniscule level. At such small quantities, recent research has shown no adverse health findings to the current level of exposure to nanosilver, making it safe to use. It has also been registered as a biocidal material in the United States since 1951. In addition, due to it’s antimicrobial properties, the use of silver in wound dressings, treatment of eye conditions, and other infections is well established. Besides medical uses, nanosilver has also experienced a surge in commercialization.
COMMERCIAL USES
The consumer market for antibacterial, germ-free products is huge (overpriced hand sanitizer anyone?). The use of silver can be seen in everything from makeup to silver coated bandages to companies putting it into socks and gym wear amongst a variety of other items.
Another benefit of nanosilver is that it destroys the cell membranes of bacteria, making it hard for microbes to develop a resistance to the silver. This is one of the many reasons why nanosilver is such an effective antiseptic. It is also why Aoni chose to incorporate nanosilver in our thinnest condoms.
WHY NANOSILVER CONDOMS?
The inspiration behind Aoni’s Nanosilver Ultrathin 001 condom started when we recognized the lack of condom solutions for women living with vaginal PH imbalance. A healthy vagina is naturally acidic and presents a hostile environment to fight off bacteria. Changes in vaginal PH due to age, hormones, and other factors can make women more susceptible to infections.
With our Nanosilver Ultrathin 001s that cleanse and sterilizes secretions, Aoni takes a proactive and natural approach to not only provide women with extra protection against infections and bacteria build up but it also protects the other partner as well with no known health side effects. This makes our ultrathin condoms suitable for those with changing partners or for those looking for added protection.
Aoni’s innovative and technologically driven approach aims to create a product that goes beyond the functional use of condoms to prevent pregnancy and STIs. Incorporating nanosilver adds another layer of protection for both parties and can help protect against bacteria during intercourse.
Buy condoms online at Aoni.