Metal Nanoparticles from Algae: A Green Approach for the Synthesis, Characterization and their Biological Activity

Abstract

In recent time, green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is the latest developing technology and received prodigious interest because it is easy, environmentally pristine, non-fouling, antitoxic, and lowcost approach. Green route of biogenic synthesis of metal nanoparticles via microbes such as bacteria, fungi, virus, yeast and algae has the potential to deliver sustainable and enviro safe protocol. Green synthesized metal nanoparticles are the most optimistic and novel agent for various catalytic and biological activities as antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer etc. without any toxic effects. Here, we reviewed algae-mediated green synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and their biological activity. Algae are photoautotrophic, eukaryotic, aquatic, unicellular or multicellular organisms. Algae commonly used for biosynthesis because they grow rapidly, their biomass growth on average ten times faster than higher plants and easy to handle experiments with algal species. Different algal strains such as red, green and brown algae are using for the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Algae contain bioactive molecules and secondary metabolites that act as reducing, capping and stabilizing agent for manufacturing in nanoparticles. Biogenically synthesized metal and metal oxide nanoparticles characterized by different techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), HR-TEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), DLS (dynamic light scattering) zeta potential and exhibited biological activity. In future, research algal production of metal nanoparticles can be explored by the use of different microalgae and their applications in different areas such as biological activity, catalytic activity in the synthesis of organic compounds, medical diagnose and synthesis of nanocomposite, lipid nanoparticles and antibiofilm.