Acticoat Bandages
Acticoat™ bandages use an ancient remedy - silver, not antibiotics - to speed up healing and maintains effectiveness for seven days.
The nanoscale silver coating process was developed by an engineering professor at the University of Alberta, Dr. Robert Burrell. He also holds the Canada Research Chair in Nanostructural Biomaterials. This is the world's first commercial medical application of nanotechnology. Launched in 1998, the bandages are manufactured by Nucryst Pharmaceuticals in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta and are now sold in more than 30 countries around the world by Smith & Nephew. In 2004, Acticoat made Forbes magazine's top 10 nanotechnology products.
Innovator: Dr. Robert Burrell
Company: Nucryst Pharmaceuticals
Relevant Location: Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Innovation System Building Blocks: University of Alberta, National Institute for Nanotechnology
Sector: Nanotechnology, Life Sciences
Significant Date: 1998
Further Information:
http://www.nucryst.com/
http://www.abheritage.ca/abinvents/inventors/robertburrell_biography.htm
http://www.smith-nephew.com/
Photo courtesy of www.dressings.org/Dressings/acticoat.html
Current as of: Friday, October 24, 2008
Maintained by: Communications branch, AET
