Silver in all forms show antibacterial properties with variable degree. We can use the suitable form as per our application.
Since ancient times, the silver ion has been known to be effective against a broad range of microorganisms. Today, silver ions are used to control bacterial growth in a variety of medical applications, including dental work, catheters, and the healing of burn wounds.The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of silver ions is closely related to their interaction with thiol (sulfhydryl) groups.
Reference:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2292600/
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Silver_as_an_Antimicrobial_Agent
http://www.worldofchemicals.com/chemicals/chemical-properties/silver.html - Here you will get chemical properties of silver
In all forms silver shows a very good antimicrobial activity, however if you can synthesize silvernanoparticles; can be use to see the activity at 100mM conc. you may receive a good antifungal activity... almost in many pathogentic fungus too... speciifically in agribio Silvernanoparticles are used as antifungal agents
how about the delivery of antimicrobial drugs using silver nanoparticles to the lungs of TB sufferers ?
If we use silver as an antimicrobial agent are we not disturbing the normal microflora of the system ?
It depends. If you have a silver compound the silver ion will be the main antimicrobial species. However, AgNP catalyzes the formation of superoxide.
http://water.unsw.edu.au/site/research/biogeochemical-processes/biogeochemical-processes-projects/silver-nanoparticles/
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Silver_as_an_Antimicrobial_Agent
Best of my knowledge ag+1 is responsible for the antimicrobial activity.
The mechanism is similar to that of copper. I've linked to a TEDx talk about it that goes through the mechanisms.
I have heard the speaker (Michael Schmidt) talk about silver having the same mechanism in an episode of This Week in Microbiology (of which he is a host) on several occasions (https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Awww.microbeworld.org%2Fpodcasts%2Fthis-week-in-microbiology+silver)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mIFjAvkomoA
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