We disclose a colorless composition comprising metal particles (e.g., silvernanoparticles) and water, wherein said particles comprise an interior of elementalmetal (e.g., silver) and an exterior of metal oxide (e.g., one or more silver oxide(s)),wherein the metal nanoparticles are present in the water at a level of about 5-40ppm, and wherein the composition manifests significant antimicrobial properties.Methods of use of the composition are described. The composition can be incorporatedinto a hydrogel with essentially no loss of antimicrobial properties. Variousmetal-containing compositions with unexpected biological efficacy are alsodisclosed.