The antimicrobial activity of silve

The antimicrobial activity of silver has been attributed to
their adhesion to the cell surface, degrading lipopolysacchar-
ides and forming ‘‘pits’’ in the membranes (Sondi & Salopek-
Sondi, 2004); penetration inside bacterial cell, damaging
bacteria DNA (Ji et al., 2007), and releasing antimicrobial Ag+
ions (Morones et al., 2005) which bind to electron donor groups
in molecules containing sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen. Another
mechanism notes that Ag+ ions are adsorbed by the surface of
bacteria and incorporated into the cells by active transport and
react with the enzymes and inhibit metabolic processes
necessary for sustaining cell (Zhao & Stevens, 1998). Hamouda
and Baker (2000) and Dibrov, Dzioba, Gosink, and Hase (2002)
reported that the antimicrobial activity of Ag+ ions is due to the
electrostatic attraction between the microorganism’s cell
membrane negatively charged and positively charged particles.