Chapter 5 - Phytonanotechnology and synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Abstract

The synthesis of nanoparticles using different plant parts is a growing field of research that is called phytonanotechnology. It circumvents the disadvantages associated with the orthodox synthetic methods to offer possibilities of nanoparticles with ease of production, less or no toxicity, and cheaply available materials tailored toward unlimited applications. Biocomponents such as reducing sugars, proteins, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, organic acids, and terpenoids are responsible for the reduction, stabilization, and capping effect of the metal precursors to give nanoparticles. Depending on the plant materials, the reaction temperature, pH, concentration, nature, size, and applications of the nanoparticles differs. Silver nanoparticles have greater applications as antimicrobial agents than any other nanoparticles. There are improvements to such behavior by the formation of composites with other materials. This chapter focuses more on the plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles using different plant parts, their biological applications, and likely cytotoxic behaviors.