ABSTRACT
Human diseases due to pathogenic microorganisms have been prevalent over the past few years and these infectious diseases are the main cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial activity of nano-Ag particles are proved through many studies and their mechanisms on pathogenic microorganisms are discovered. Under stressful conditions such as desiccation, dehydration, oxidation and toxic agents, fungal cells undergo the inactivation and denaturation of proteins and membrane. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) including hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions are continuously produced during the normal aerobic metabolism and act as second messengers in signal transduction pathways in fungal cells. Caspases, cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific proteases are considered to be the major enzymes that provoke the apoptotic cascade in eukaryotes. Because of good antimicrobial properties, silver has been used for centuries to treat various diseases, most notably infections and biological safety of them is demonstrated. Although silver is the potential antimicrobial agent, their use has a major drawback.
