Researchers at Hong Kong University told the Chinese news media on April 28 that silver nano-particles have been proven to rein in the growth of the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Lei Lu, a doctoral candidate at Hong Long University, said his team found that silver nano-particles could reduce the extra cellular DNA formation of HBVs by more than half, and could check their intracellular RNA formation as well.

"Silver nano-particles have special properties such as larger active surface and porosity so they can easily bind with small molecules. ...The finding provides a new direction for developing new anti-HBV drugs, with nano-particles used as a drug carrier to enhance the antiviral efficacy while minimizing the undesirable side effects," Lu said.

Lu also noted that silver nano-particles have another advantage since it is unlikely that HBV can become resistant to silver nano-particles because the interaction is determined by the physiochemical properties of the tiny particles. The study is still in the laboratory stage and any findings it may generate are still three to five years away from clinic use, according to Lu.

The study was conducted jointly by researchers at the Departments of Medicine and Chemistry at Hong Kong University and has been published in the March issue of the Antiviral Therapy research journal.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, Mississauga, Ontario-based Covalon Technologies announced on April 28 that its antimicrobial silver coating on Foley catheters has eliminated the incidence of nosocomial catheter-associated urinary tract infections during a six month study at the St. Vincent Rehabilitation Hospital in Sherwood Arkansas.