Silver and gold: Key elements in modern medicine
- Dec 19, 2024
- loveGOLD
- 7 minute read
The information contained in this article is current as of the date of publishing.
The use of silver in medicine dates back to at least 400 BCE, when Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates wrote about using the substance to improve wound care.[1] Humans have been using gold for health care for even longer, with evidence that gold was used to treat sickness in China as far back as 2500 BCE.[2] Since then, many others have observed these metals’ ability to reduce inflammation and infection. Today, the unique properties of silver and gold have made them effective treatments for a variety of conditions, as well as useful elements for diagnostic testing and other medical applications.
In this blog, we will look at historical and current medical uses of silver and gold, as well as potential applications in development.
The information contained in this article is current as of the date of publishing.
The use of silver in medicine dates back to at least 400 BCE, when Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates wrote about using the substance to improve wound care.[1] Humans have been using gold for health care for even longer, with evidence that gold was used to treat sickness in China as far back as 2500 BCE.[2] Since then, many others have observed these metals’ ability to reduce inflammation and infection. Today, the unique properties of silver and gold have made them effective treatments for a variety of conditions, as well as useful elements for diagnostic testing and other medical applications.
In this blog, we will look at historical and current medical uses of silver and gold, as well as potential applications in development.
SILVER SHINES AS AN ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
Today we know that, under certain conditions, silver forms ions that disrupt microbial processes, interfering with the bonds between key proteins in bacteria and their DNA.[3],[4] This makes silver highly useful in the medical field, where it has been used since the early 1900s as antimicrobial sutures, eye drops and wound care.[5] The 1960s saw the development of silver sulfadiazine, a compound found to be an effective treatment for severe burns that was part of standard treatment until a few decades ago, when more modern treatments replaced it.[6] However, silver sulfadiazine remains an effective treatment that is still on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines.[7]
Other medical uses for silver include:
- Breathing tubes and catheters: Silver-coated breathing tubes help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, and catheters are also often coated with silver to prevent various infections.[8]
- Dentistry: Silver diamine fluoride is used to treat dental sensitivity and cavities.[9] Silver is also a key component of dental amalgam fillings.[10]
- Microbiology: Silver is used in cell staining as a more sensitive way to detect proteins and nucleic acids for enhanced analysis.[11]
GOLD BRINGS DOWN INFLAMMATION
Gold’s primary use in modern medicine is in the form of a compound called auranofin that has been used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis for more than 40 years.[12] Its exact mechanism of action is unknown, but it has been shown to reduce inflammation.[13] Auranofin has also shown effectiveness against some viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).[14] Gold nanoparticles are used in testing and diagnostics as well, thanks to their colorimetric reactions with light. For example, gold nanoparticles are responsible for the pink or red results lines shown in home tests such as pregnancy tests or COVID-19 tests.[15]
A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR PRECIOUS METALS IN MEDICINE
Research into the use of gold and silver in medicine is ongoing, with many promising potential applications. For silver, scientists have developed a way to embed nanosilver into silk sutures, reducing microbial growth and infection at suture sites.[16] Another team is working on an electrically activated silver implant system that would reduce infections associated with implantable medical devices.[17] Work is also underway to examine the possibility of combining silver nanoparticles with antibiotics to enhance effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.[18]
Gold nanoparticles offer their own range of potential applications currently in development, including as a more sensitive contrast agent in diagnostic imaging, as a drug carrier, as a catalyst for pharmacological development of other drugs and as broad-spectrum anti-virals.[19],[20] Gold nanoparticles may also be able to improve cancer treatment, serving as radio-enhancers to enable lower, more precisely targeted doses of radiation, and playing a role in photothermal therapy.[21
SILVER AND GOLD: MORE THAN PRETTY METALS
We hope you enjoyed learning more about some of the important ways precious metals contribute to medicine and healthcare. As research continues and new applications are developed, the impact on demand for these metals and how that will affect investors remain to be seen. If you’re considering adding them to your portfolio, you should always consult your financial advisor to determine if precious metals are a suitable investment for you at this time.
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[1] The Silver Institute, Silver in Medicine — Past, Present and Future, p 1.
[2] Torskal Nanoscience, Gold in Medicine.
[3] The Silver Institute, Silver in Medicine — Past, Present and Future, p 1.
[4] Phys.org, Research Sheds Light on How Silver Ions Kill Bacteria.
[5] The Silver Institute, Silver in Medicine — Past, Present and Future, p 1.
[6] The Silver Institute, Silver in Medicine — Past, Present and Future, p 2.
[7] World Health Organization, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 23rd List, 2023.
[8] The Silver Institute, Silver in Medicine — Past, Present and Future, p 2.
[9] Nova Scotia Dental Association, When and How to Use Silver Diamine Fluoride.
[10] Canadian Dental Association, Metal Fillings.
[11] Science Direct, Silver Staining.
[12] Yamashita, Masamichi. “Auranofin: Past to Present, and Repurposing.” International Immunopharmacology, vol. 101, Part B, 108272. Dec 2021. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108272
[13] Yamashita, 2021.
[14] Yamashita, 2021.
[16] Phys.org, Scientists Develop Nanosilver-Impregnated Silk Suture Against Surgical Site Infection.
[17] The Silver Institute, Silver in Medicine — Past, Present and Future, p 3.
[18] Phys.org, Silver Nanoparticles Show Promise in Fighting Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.
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