| abstract |
A process for preparing a light stabilized antimicrobial material, characterized in that the process comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a solution comprising an organic solvent and a source of silver in sufficient quantity to obtain a desired concentration of silver in the said material, (b) subjecting a polymer to said solution for a time sufficient to incorporate said desired concentration of silver into said polymer, polymer comprising a modified polysaccharide or polysaccharide, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl ether, a polyurethane , a polyacrylate, a polyacrylamide, collagen or gelatin, or mixtures thereof, and (c) subjecting said polymer, during or after step (b), to one or more agents selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts, thiosulfates, chlorides and peroxides, which facilitate the binding of said silver to said p olymer, material that is substantially photostable after drying but which will dissociate releasing said silver upon rehydration of said material. |