Fungi-assisted silver nanoparticle synthesis and their applications.

Azhar U Khan,Nazia Malik,Masudulla Khan,Moo Hwan Cho,Mohammad Mansoob Khan

doi:10.1007/s00449-017-1846-3

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field because of its wide range of applications in science, nanoscience and biotechnology. Nanobiotechnology deals with nanomaterials synthesised or modified using biotechnology. Fungi are used to synthesise metal nanoparticles and they have vast applications in wound healing, pathogen detection and control, food preservation, textiles, fabrics, etc. The present review describes the different types of fungi used for the biosyntheses of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), along with their characterisation and possible biological applications. AgNPs synthesised by other physical and chemical methods are expensive and have toxic substances adsorbed onto them. Therefore, green, simple and effective approaches have been chosen for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, which are very important because of their lower toxicity and environmentally friendly behaviour. AgNPs synthesised using fungi have high monodispersity, specific composition and a narrow size range. In this regard, among the different biological methods used for metal nanoparticle synthesis, fungi are considered to be a superior biogenic method owing to their diversity and better size control. To further understand the biosynthesis of AgNPs using various fungi and evaluate their potential applications, this review discusses the antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidermatophytic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, hypotensive, and immunomodulatory activities of these AgNPs. The synthesis of AgNPs using fungi is a clean, green, inexpensive, eco-friendly, reliable, and safe method that can be used for a range of applications in real life for the benefit of human beings.

Highlights

Over last three decades, nanotechnology has been considered one of the most important and emerging fields of modern science [1]
The present review describes the different types of fungi used for the biosyntheses of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), along with their characterisation and possible biological applications
Among the different biological methods used for metal nanoparticle synthesis, fungi are considered to be a superior biogenic method owing to their diversity and better size control

Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnology has been considered one of the most important and emerging fields of modern science [1]. The spectral data confirmed their formation and the synthesised AgNPs have been tested against the larvae and pupae of C. quinquefasciatus, A. stephensi and Aedes aegypti and had remarkable effects In another case, Verma et al reported the synthesis AgNPs using A. clavatus (AzS-275), a species of the genus Aspergillus that belongs to the division ascomycota and family trichocomeaceae, is an endophytic fungus isolated from sterilised stem tissues of A. indica and showed an antibacterial effect [123]. Vigneshwaran et al reported the biological potential of AgNPs, where the silver-protein (core–shell) NPs produced by the fungus P. sajorcaju showed excellent antibacterial activity against K. pneumonia (Gram -tive) and S. aureus (Gram ?tive), despite the presence of an organic layer as a shell [129].

Conclusions

Compliance with ethical standards