Tag Archives: ABL

MMA (mixed martial arts) and nano silver wound dressings

I had never, ever expected to mention mixed martial arts (MMA) here but that’s one of the delightful aspects of writing about nanotechnology; you never know where it will take you. A March 9, 2015 news item on Azonano describes the wound situation for athletes and a new product,

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As an MMA Champion athlete, Rich Franklin knows all too well about germs and how easily they spread. During training he dealt with them on a regular basis, but it wasn’t until the first time he had staph, did he realize these infections could cost him a victory. Now, working in a global setting, Franklin trains in locations around the world which leaves him exposed to a plethora of bacteria and fungi. So he teamed up with American Biotech Labs (ABL) to develop Armor Gel, nano silver-based, wound dressing gel that can stay active on the skin for up to seventy-two hours (3 days). Using patented nano silver technology, Armor Gel has been scientifically tested to reduce the levels of bacteria and other pathogens, while forming a protective barrier “armor” over the wound. By shielding the body from external bacterial, the body’s natural healing process can be expedited. Its use is recommended by doctors, trainers, coaches, and athletes alike.

A March 6, 2015 ABL news release on BusinessWire, which originated the news item, provides a little more detail about Armor Gel,

Engineered for today’s modern athletes, Armor Gel is safe, nontoxic and provides a personal first line of defense. Already proven to reduce the levels of MRSA, VRE, pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, A. niger and Candida albicans, Armor Gel is formulated using a unique and patented 24 SilverSol Technology®.

American Biotech Labs (ABL) was started in 2002 as a nano silver biotech company with the goal of creating a more stable and powerful silver technology for consumer products. …

I am providing a link to the product website (neither the link nor this post are endorsements), you can find out more about Armor Gel here.

Armor Gel was announced previously in a Sept. 16, 2014 ABL news release on PR Newswire, At the time no mention was made of Rich Franklin, their MMA athlete,

American Biotech Labs, LLC, is pleased to announce the availability of three new silver hydrogel wound-dressing products.  The new products will allow American Biotech Labs (ABL) to market in the wound-care market focusing on ultimate sports and fitness, spa and health, and animal markets.

The new over-the-counter (OTC) products will have wound-dressing claims for minor cuts, lacerations, abrasions, 1st and 2nd degree burns, and skin irritations.  The products also have pathogen-inhibiting barrier claims against pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, MRSA and VRE, as well as fungi, such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger.  These new gels can provide a barrier that will help protect wounds for 24 to 72 hours.

The new products will be found under the names of Armor Gel™ (for the ultimate sports and fitness market), ASAP OTC™ (for the spa and health markets), and ASAP Pet Shield® (for the animal market).

Along with the release of these new products, ABL has formed a strategic alliance with Stuart Evey, founder and former chairman of ESPN, and Gary Bernstein, marketing executive and professional photographer and film maker.  ABL will utilize these talented individuals to help introduce these revolutionary new products to high-profile organizations in sports, pet stores, fashion and beauty, medical, and direct-marketing areas, etc.

Said Keith Moeller, ABL Director, “We are very grateful to the numerous top scientists, labs and universities that have helped move this amazing, patented, silver technology forward.  We believe that these products have the ability to impact the future of wound management worldwide.”

Note: Any statements released by American Biotech Labs, LLC that are forward looking are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Editors and investors are cautioned that forward looking statements invoke risk and uncertainties that may affect the company’s business prospects and performance.

You can find out more about ABL and its entire product line here.

Ingesting nano silver: a double-blind study

American Biotech Labs (ABL) has released publicity about an intriguing study on ingesting nano silver. From the Apr. 23, 2013 news item on Nanowerk,

The study included 3-, 7-, and 14-day exposures to American Biotech Labs 10-ppm (15 ml/day) silver solution in a double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over phase design. Healthy volunteer subjects (36, 12 per each time-exposure), underwent complete metabolic, blood and platelet count, urinalysis tests, sputum hyperresponsiveness and inflammation evaluation, physical examinations, vital sign measurements, and magnetic resonance imaging of the chest and abdomen at baseline and at the end of each phase.

… Keith Moeller, A Managing Director at ABL. “… As a prelim to the study, I volunteered to be checked for silver deposition in my body, after 15+ years of almost daily usage as a supplement to help boost my immune system. No silver residue was found anywhere in my system. We are always working hard to gain knowledge about silver. Because of this, we have now amassed a library of more than 300 major reports, studies and test series, all completed on our nano-silver technology by more than 60 different universities, government/military labs, and private institutions.”

In conclusion the report stated, “The In-vivo oral exposure of a commercial 10-ppm silver nano-particle solution over 3-, 7-, and 14-day exposures does not exhibit clinically important changes in metabolic, hematologic, urine, vital sign changes, physical findings or imaging changes visualized by MRI.” …

Oddly, I cannot find where this study was published nor does the news release, which originated the news item, appear on the company website (as of 4 pm PDT April 23, 2013).

As for the study itself, which researchers ran the study? Was a third party contracted to run it? How did they ensure the study was double-blind? I gather this was not a randomized study.

They state specifically there were no urine changes. If the subjects are eliminating the silver, shouldn’t they be able to see that in the urine? If the silver accumulates in the body, how much is too much? Might it not take longer than 14 days to reach a toxic or dangerous stage?

Moeller’s personal endorsement is not really convincing as one assumes that as managing director of the company he has much to gain by encouraging people to ingest nano silver (ABL sells it as a health supplement). The same holds true regarding this study, which seems to have been run by the company itself.

As it stands, the study seems a bit sketchy but hopefully more details will emerge.