SILVERN: KESUM-SILVER NANOPARTICLES AS ANTIBACTERIAL WOUND HEALING AGENT

BOOTH NO : C4


Category : Biotechnology, Life Science & Pure Science

Silvern cream contains silver nanoparticles (AgNP) synthesized using kesum leaf extract via a green biosynthesis method. The kesum's high antioxidant activity leads to a high reducing ability for AgNP synthesis. Silvern has high antibacterial activity against various bacteria, safe for humans, and acting as antibacterial wound healing agent, as demonstrated by an in vitro skin cells and in vivo animal testing assays. The biosynthesis process and its application as an antibacterial wound healing agent have been filed for copyrights (LY2020004347 & LY2021E05078). The huge market size of AgNP, antimicrobials, and wound healing making Silvern's commercialization potential enormous. A few local companies have been identified as industrial partners that will involve in our commercialization strategy. The advantage of Silvern is that the AgNP is produced sustainably without generating harmful waste, and thus contributes to the circular economy manufacturing inventiveness.
When a wound is infected with bacteria, the treatment costs are extremely high, particularly nursing and hospitalisation costs, which can be burdensome for low-income communities. As a result, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) can be used to either kill or inhibit bacterial growth at the wound site. At low concentrations, AgNP is a widely used antimicrobial agent that is safe for humans. However, the physical and chemical synthesis techniques had drawbacks, particularly hazardous waste generation and high energy consumption. As a result, AgNP biosynthesis using kesum leaf extract could be a sustainable and safe synthesis technique. Furthermore, kesum leaf is plentiful, easy to grow in Malaysia, and has high antioxidant activity. The application of Silvern at the wound site can help to prevent the spread of pathogenic bacteria while also lowering treatment costs, which has a positive impact on the community.
The global wound care market is projected to grow from $15.84 billion in 2021 to $24.01 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 6.1% in forecast period, 2021-2028 (www.fortunebusinessinsights.com)
The global silver nanoparticles market was valued at $1.8 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $4.1 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 15.7% from 2020 to 2027 (www.alliedmarketresearch.com)
The global antimicrobial additives market forecast was valued at $4.7 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $9.3 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2030 (www.alliedmarketresearch.com)
The positive trend and huge market of silver nanoparticles, wound and antimicrobial agent showing market need for Silvern as antibacterial wound healing agent in the near future.
Due to pandemic caused by COVID19, everyone is looking at the antimicrobial agent that can prevent microbial growth and maintain hygienic lifestyle.
The market for wound care and antimicrobial product is very huge because they are connected with each other.
Hence, combining antimicrobial and wound healing activities of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using plant extract is suitable for this specific market.
Besides that, the biosynthesis approach of silver nanoparticles can also cover some part of the global silver nanoparticles market, with a more green and sustainable approach.
The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles is also a solution to meet the increasing demand for antimicrobial agent due to COVID19 pandemic.
The next step of commercialization approach is to obtain precommercialization funding in order to achieve TRL6 to TRL9.
In term of manufacturing, the production cost of Silvern is low because of simple preparation techniques without chemicals, high energy, waste etc.
The biosynthesis process uses plant extract which is available and abundance in Malaysia, and neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand.
It has been shown from experimental in vitro and in vivo studies that the product has immediate effects with high efficacy of antibacterial and wound healing activities.
The Silvern is also safe to human skin and no sign of skin irritation occurs based on the in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo animal testing, respectively.
The product is stable at a longer period because of the presence of silver nanoparticles which is inorganic antibacterial agent that can prevent bacteria or other microorganisms grow in the product.
Competitor of Silvern is the antimicrobial or wound healing products at the clinics or pharmacies such as Betadine cream, guardian antiseptic cream and Bepanthen cream.
Betadine cream uses water soluble iodine that can give stain to our cloth, unlike Silvern cream that is clean to be used on skin.
Chloroxylenol and chlorhexidine in the most antiseptic cream has side effects due to its chemical nature such as skin irritation, itching and other uncomfortable skin effect.
As compared to typical commercial silver nanoparticles, the Silvern contains silver nanoparticles together with bioactive compounds from plant and safe to human.
In the future, the Silvern can be used as antimicrobial agent, in which the product can also be used as antifungus, antiviral, antibiofilm and others.
Several potential industrial partners and agencies related to product validation have been identified, and the commercialization approach is by licensing the copyright.
Platinum Coatings Sdn Bhd has signed MoU with UTM to manufacture biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using kesum plant leaf extract, and license the copyright.
The Silvern cream with KKM approval (NOT) will be then produced by Biopro Consortium Sdn Bhd. This company is an OEM with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility.
After that, there will be agreement with Youbaby Millions Sdn Bhd and Clayra Beauty and Health Enterprise for marketing, distribution and selling the product.
This commercialization strategy will ensure there are various market segmentation for biosynthesized silver nanoparticles such as for pets, paint, antimicrobial spray, coating etc.