Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are receiving growing attention due to their antibacterial, chemical, electrical and catalytic properties that have important industrial applications. In particular, AgNPs are increasingly used in consumer products to control the growth of microorganisms on external and internal surfaces. Several consumer product databases now list products containing nanosilver or AgNPs. For example, Nanodata shows 68 AgNP products among 3060 nanoproducts [1] while the Woodrow Wilson consumer product inventory shows 443 AgNP products (highest subgroup) among 1833 nanoproduct [2]. Although antibacterial nanoproducts containing AgNPs are now widely commercially available, most AgNP-containing products are sold without providing any information on their physicochemical properties and health & safety data. In most countries, consumer products are not covered by current SDS (Safety Data Sheet) regulations that require disclosure of physicochemical properties and health & safety data. Most AgNP manufacturers only provide product specifications based on their own practices. Therefore, the new TS attempts to provide standard guidelines for the characterization and measurement of AgNPs in powder or colloidal form that are used as antibacterial agents in consumer products. The new working item proposal for antibacterial AgNPs was already accepted by the ISO Technical Committee (TC) 229 (Nanotechnologies) and technical specification (TS) 20660 was developed by working group 4 (Material specifications) [3]. The new technical specification is intended to help manufacturers provide the appropriate physicochemical characteristics of AgNPs used as antibacterial agents in consumer products, while also ultimately boosting consumer confidence.

Initial market survey of antibacterial AgNP products

      Since this survey is for market survey, we did not use existing organizations created databases such as Woodrow Wilson New nanotechnology consumer products inventory [2], Danish Nanoproduct Inventory [4], or Korean nanofusion product database Nanoin [5]. Additionally, we searched published papers that used silver nanoparticles [6]. Based on internet search using keywords such as antibacterial silver, nanosilver silver nanoparticles, silver nanomaterials, etc, among 834 products, 394 antibacterial products that contained AgNPs smaller than 100 nm were analyzed as regards the provided specifications. The results are summarized in Table 1. Among the 394 antibacterial AgNP products, 165 included primary particle size information with an average size of 39.8 nm. The average particle size for the 394 AgNP products was 60 nm. 305 AgNP products included surface charge information, where the average was -38.8 mV, and 66 products included surface area information, where the average was 14.2 m2 /g. 76 products included particle aggregation information, where 67 products claimed no aggregation and 9 products reported aggregation. Consequently, based on this information, the working group formulated essential and additional specification requirements for antibacterial AgNP products.

Scope of technical specification

      The new TS provides guidance for specifying the characteristics and relevant measurement methods for silver nanoparticles in powder or colloidal form that are intended for antibacterial application in consumer products. Particularly, the new TS is intended to help the manufacturer provide the physicochemical characteristics of silver nanoparticles used as antibacterial agents, and does not cover considerations specific to health and safety issues either during manufacturing or use.

Characterization and measurement methods required and recommended in TS

      The new characteristic specification for antibacterial silver nanoparticles consists of two categories: essential and additional characteristics, as described in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. As such, to comply with TS 20660, manufacturers of antibacterial AgNPs will need to provide all the essential characteristics listed in Table 2, and will have the option to provide the additional characteristics listed in Table 3. The essential characteristics are all intrinsic to the material, including the average size and distribution of primary particles, zeta potential, surface area, and total silver content. The TS for AgNPs is applicable to both powder and colloidal forms of AgNPs, yet not aerosol forms. All the characteristics need to be measured using the methods and units prescribed in the TS to allow direct comparison among AgNP products. The additional characteristics cover the hydrodynamic size and silver nanoparticle number concentration.

Sampling and test report

      The new TS requires representative sampling of the parent population of nanoparticles in a suspended powder form in accordance with ISO 14488 [25] and ISO 14887 [26]. Since many nano-objects are reactive and their physicochemical properties can be affected by the sampling point and storage, the manufacturer and end-producer need to agree on the sampling point and sample storage for result comparability. The test report should contain 1) all details generally necessary to identify the test product (product name, chemical name); 2) reference to the new TS; 3) a sample description; 4) the relationship between the sample used for the measurements and the test product to which the characteristics are assigned; 5) the test date, name of the testing laboratory, and a statement on the quality system of the testing laboratory; 6) measurement results for the characteristics, including the measurement methods, as in Table 2 and if applicable Table 3; 7) any special information supporting the reliability of the measurement results. If available, the results of any antibacterial performance testing should be provided, along with the documented test procedures.

Antibacterial performance test

      After a great deal of discussion on whether to include antibacterial performance tests in the new TS, the technical committee decided against this antibacterial performance test due to the lack of any current standardization of the antibacterial performance of silver nanoparticles and because antibacterial performance tests are beyond the scope of the new TS. Relevant antibacterial performance tests include ISO/TS 16550 [27] and the performance standards for the antimicrobial disk & dilution susceptibility test: M2-A9 from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [28]. The requirements outlined by national pharmacopeia or regulatory bodies can also be consulted and followed if appropriate. Plus, the jurisdictions where the material may ultimately be sold should be considered.

      ISO TC 229 (Nanotechnologies) aims to support the sustainable and responsible development and global dissemination of emerging nanotechnologies; to facilitate global trade in nanotechnologies, nanotechnology products, and nanotechnologyenabled systems and products; to support improvement in quality, safety, security, consumer and environmental protection, together with the rational use of natural resources in the context of nanotechnologies; to promote good practice in the production, use, and disposal of nanomaterials, nanotechnology products, and nanotechnology-enabled systems and products. Initially, the TC focused on the terminology and nomenclature, metrology and test methods, and health, safety, and the environment. The working group for material specification (WG 4) was created in 2008 and published several standards, including Materials specifications - Guidance on specifying nano-objects (ISO 12805) [26], Clay nanomaterials - Part 1: Specification of characteristics and measurement methods for layered clay nanomaterials (ISO/TS 21236-1) [27], and Magnetic nanomaterials - Part 1: Specification of characteristics and measurements for magnetic nanosuspensions (ISO/TS 19807-1) [28]. Although antibacterial AgNP products are already produced and used worldwide, a standardized product specification is not yet available. This lack of consensus on how manufacturers of antibacterial products prepare product specifications for the market also affects consumer confidence in antibacterial AgNP products. Therefore, the new TS for antibacterial AgNP products guides manufacturers on which essential and additional characteristics to include in their product specifications. Furthermore, the new TS prescribes particular measurement methods to provide comparable specification data among products, thereby ultimately helping to boost consumer confidence in AgNP-applied nanoproducts. In addition to providing essential and additional specification requirements for antibacterial AgNP, this TS also provide characterization methods for the specification requirements to have consistency on specification data among the products. The published standard will influence on the future market for AgNP applied nanoproducts and will build consumer trust as well as the facilitation of communication between seller and buyer in more details by utilizing this standard to fill the gap of reliable measurement protocol or methods.

      Although the working group initially considered the inclusion of antibacterial performance tests in the new TS, this was dropped due to the current lack of any standardization of antibacterial AgNP performance and because this issue was determined beyond the scope of the working group. Finally, it is hoped that the new technical specification will encourage the commercialization of nanotechnologies by promoting good practice in production and building consumer confidence.

      This study was supported by the Global Top EnvironmentTechnology Development project (No. 2018001860004) funded by the Ministry of Environment.