Argyrol

Argyrol is the trade name for an antiseptic (antimicrobial) consisting of a compound of protein and silver. It was developed and commercialized by American physician Dr Albert Coombs Barnes (1872-1951), after whom the Barnes Foundation, an educational art institution, is named.

Argyrol is infrequently prescribed today, but it dominated the topical ophthalmic antimicrobial market for the first half of the 20th century. Barnes used the enormous profits the drug brought to accumulate a large collection of mainly French Impressionist art works, which today form the holdings of the Foundation established by his will.