Algal Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity: Current Research Status and Future Prospectives

Abstract

Green nanotechnology is a promising technology that has a wide range of applications in pharmaceuticals today because they offer a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio. Algal-based nanoparticles (NPs) are the subject of intense research interest today for their potential to treat and prevent infections caused by infectious microorganisms that are antibiotic resistant. Algae contain a variety of therapeutically potential bioactive ingredients, including chlorophyll, phycobilin, phenolics, flavonoids, glucosides, tannins, and saponins. As a result, NPs made from algae could be used as therapeutic antimicrobials. Due to their higher surface-area-to-volume ratios compared to their macroscopic components, metallic nanoparticles are more reactive and have toxic effects on their therapy. For pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, green synthesis restricts the use of physical and chemical methods of metallic nanoparticle synthesis, and it can be carried out in an environmentally friendly and relatively low-cost manner. The majority of macroalgae and some microalgae have latent antimicrobial activity and are used in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. A potential application in the field of nanomedicine and the establishment of a potential pharmacophore against microorganisms may result from the synthesis of algal-based NPs. Only a few studies have been done on the potential antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial activity of algae-based NPs. As a result, the study will concentrate on the environmentally friendly synthesis of various NPs and their therapeutic potential, with a focus on their antibacterial activity. Thus, the aim of this study is to review all the literature available on the synthesis and characterization of the algal nanoparticles and their potential application as an antibacterial agent.