Silver-containing Inorganic
Antibacterial Agents
Silver-containing Inorganic
Antibacterial Agents
What is "Apacider"?
“Apacider” is a unique antibacterial material composed of calcium phosphate imbued with metallic silver. Compared to organic antibacterial agents and silver ion-based antibacterials, it offers various advantages.
Product Lineup
Sangi offers a wide range of Apacider grades tailored to customer needs.
| Grade | Applications |
|---|---|
| AW | General-purpose industrial grade |
| AK | Fine particle grade for industrial use |
| Z | Fine particle grade for industrial use (zinc-based) |
| AW-N | General-purpose grade for cosmetics and toiletries (including quasi-drugs) |
| C | Fine particle grade for cosmetics and toiletries (including quasi-drugs) |
Key Features
Broad-spectrum antibacterial activity
Allows formulations without the use of traditional preservatives
Long-lasting antibacterial effect helps keep products hygienic over time
No discoloration, fading, or odor change in the finished product, maintaining its aesthetic quality
Minimal toxicity and low skin irritation: safe for use in cosmetics, toiletries, and related products
Excellent heat resistance and stability: suitable for use in a wide range of materials, including synthetic resins and paper
Licensed and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), enabling the export of processed products
What is "Antibacterial"?
Definition of Microbial Control
In the context of antimicrobially treated products currently available on the market, “antibacterial” refers to specifically the suppression of bacterial growth on the surface of a product.
This function is different from “sterilization,” which kills microorganisms, and from “disinfection” or “sanitization,” which remove them.
Below is a summary of the differences between antimicrobial effect, sterilization, pasteurization, disinfection, and eradication.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Antimicrobial effect | Inhibition of proliferation of bacteria on the surface of products. |
| Sterilization | Complete killing of microorganisms. |
| Pasteurization | Killing of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. |
| Disinfection | Killing / elimination of all pathogenic microorganisms. |
| Eradication | Removal of microorganisms from a certain substance or limited space. |
Source: Society of International sustaining growth for Antimicrobial Articles (SIAA) website,
“What is Antibacterial?”
Common Hypotheses on Antimicrobial Mechanisms
Antimicrobial agents exert different effects on microorganisms depending on their chemical structure, and various hypotheses have been proposed to explain these mechanisms. Typical examples include one or a combination of the following.
1. Antimicrobial substances adsorb to the surface of microorganisms and interfere with various
functions of the cell membrane.
2. Antimicrobial substances disrupt the cell membrane and cell wall, forming pores that cause leakage
of intracellular contents (see below).
3. Antimicrobial substances penetrate the cell and either interact directly with intracellular components
or inhibit their functions.
4. Antimicrobial substances destabilize membrane-bound respiratory enzymes, thereby inhibiting
cellular respiration.
5. Antimicrobial substances inhibit the synthesis of DNA and RNA, or interfere with transcription
enzymes, resulting in the suppression of protein synthesis.
6. Antimicrobial substances undergo photoexcitation of hydroxyl radicals that cause disinfection.
Source: Antimicrobial Technologies and Market Trends 2016, pp. 176–177, CMC Publishing Co., Ltd.
The figure above illustrates the mechanism of a typical antimicrobial agent.
Antimicrobial substances disrupt the cell membrane and cell wall, creating pores that kill microorganisms, thereby producing an antimicrobial effect.