Making ultra-active antimicrobial copper possible through surface area enhancement

Abstract

Copper has been used throughout history for its antimicrobial capacity; long before any mechanisms were understood it was folk medicine. Today, there are over 500 copper alloys registered with the EPA for their proven antipathogenic capabilities. These materials are unique compared to traditional disinfectants because of their broadband activity, longevity and ability to self-sterilize. They have significant potential in healthcare, industrial, and commercial settings because they are non-specific and able to kill all pathogens tested thus far. However, in the past they have been hindered by their action timeline; conventionally available bulk coppers are highly oxidized and frequently have very low surface areas. We have developed a novel copper configuration that remains unoxidized and possesses an extremely high surface area, thus making it ultra-active against pathogens. The testing we have done makes a very promising case for our copper, ActiveCopper, to be used in settings that experience frequent contact and need to be disinfected frequently. It eliminates infectious agents in less than a minute and retains that ability for years. In this paper we explore the possible mechanisms behind its unprecedented action and exhibit our analyses of its characteristics.