Copper (I) ion found to be the active species in anaerobic antibacterial effect

Magal Saphier, Chemistry, N.R.C.N, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Alexandra Chilikov, Chemical Engineering , Sami Shamoon College of Engineering , Beer-Sheva, Israel
Semion Brover , Chemical Engineering , Sami Shamoon College of Engineering , Beer-Sheva, Israel
Alona Drozdovich, Chemical Engineering , Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Sebastian Grinstein, Chemical Engineering , Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
anislav Popov, Chemical Engineering, Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Oshra Saphier, Chemical Engineering, Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Yoram Shotland, Chemical Engineering, Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Eldad Silberstin, 2. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

The antimicrobial effect of copper (Cu) has long been recognized. Cu is used as a disinfectant in the healthcare setting although the mechanism is unknown. Silver (I) ions are used to treat wound infection in burn victims as well as in chronic wounds. The electronic configuration similarity of Silver (I) to Cu (I) raised the suspicion that Cu (I) is indeed the active state rather then Cu (II).

In order to test this hypothesis we compared the antibacterial effect of Cu (I), Cu (II), Ag (I) ions and metallic copper under anaerobic conditions.

In the present of Cu(I) ion, there was a dramatic depletion in the vitality of E-Coli with comparison to control medium. The metallic copper did not have any effect on the vitality of E-Coli, and the Cu(II) and Ag(I) ions had mach lower activity compared to Cu(I) ions. Similar effect was found on Staphylococcus aureus.