Microbial-Mediated Nanoparticles for Sustainable Environment: Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

The remarkable aspects of nanomaterials have enabled their employment in a myriad of biomedical, bio-sensing and environmental applications. However, the physicochemical synthetic routes adopted for such materials are marked by imparting a profound toxicity to ecological niche by using hazardous synthetic reducing agents besides the complex operational conditions of high temperature and pressure. Cost spent on nanomaterials synthetic routes is another bottleneck of the physicochemical modes. Alternatively, microbes mediated green fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) signifies a green approach by using microbial products as nano-biofactories ranging from prokaryotic to eukaryotic organisms for stabilization and reduction of metallic ions into nanoparticles possessing varied dimensionality and size ranges via prevention of the agglomeration and size maturation. Unlike, physicochemical methods, greener microbial approach are a non-toxic, eco-friendly and cost-effective method which can be carried out in both intracellular and extracellular modes. In the current chapter, the conformity between environmental nano-biotechnology specifically microbial biomimetic NPs syntheses and environmental sustainability has been closely analyzed by comprehending the contribution of bacterial, fungal, and other microbial species in the biogenesis of metallic NPs. Microbial synthesis signifying cleaner production method serves the dual purpose of toxicity-free and natural resource-based synthesis without any external inputs in an economical way. Biomimetic NPs characterized via different investigative methods have been outlined in the chapter. Furthermore, the chapter also elucidates the environmental nano-biotechnological applications of silver NPs synthesized via microbial route acting as green nano-photocatalysts of various organic dyes having persistent nature contaminating hydrospheric zones. Furthermore, an account of silver NPs as nano-antimicrobial tools against various pathogens is also discussed. Meticulous comprehension of environmental nano-biotechnology based on green NPs express the potential of these materials to be adopted at practical scale after optimized operation of the process involved and exploration of new microbes for synthesis.