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Why does copper have antimicrobial properties?

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Why does copper have antimicrobial properties?

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The exact mechanisms for copper.s antimicrobial effect are still unknown and the subject of on-going research. Several distinct mechanisms are hypothesised and believed to act simultaneously. A critical factor believed to be responsible for copper’s antimicrobial properties is copper’s ability to readily accept or donate electrons. This electro-chemical property enables copper to participate in chemical reactions (Fenton-like reactions) that cause oxidative damage to the cell. Further, excess copper ions bind to intracellular proteins and inhibit their function or cause protein degradation. It has also been observed that copper is responsible for lesions in the cell wall, causing leakage of essential cellular components. These and other mechanisms are hypothesised to be why copper inactivates many types of bacteria, fungi and viruses and are the subject of ongoing studies.

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