Prospectus and Development of Microbes Mediated Synthesis of Nanoparticles

As a productive and environmentally sustainable choice to physical and chemical approaches, in recent years, the biosynthesis of nanoparticles has been suggested. In several products and devices, nanomaterials are gradually being used with a significant effect on various fields. Bacteria, yeast, molds, and microalgae are being utilized and developed for the microbial synthesis of nanomaterials finding the application in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and sensory devices. The capacity to synthesize specific nanostructures has been shown by certain bacteria, fungi, and microalgae such as bacterial wires, exopolysaccharides, bacterial nanocellulose, and biomineralized nanoscale materials (frustules, coccoliths, and magnetosomes). Inconveniences in chemical and physical synthesis of nanoparticles such as the existence of hazardous chemicals and the high-energy demands of manufacturing make it difficult for them to be widely used. In contrast microbial synthesis minimizes the consumption of hazardous chemicals, reduces manufacturing cost, and requires low energy. Using living species, in particular fungi, bacteria, and algae, is an alternative means of synthesizing metallic nanoparticles that are gaining the enormous application in pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Herein, this chapter presents the overview of the application of bacteria, fungi, algae, and viruses in the biosynthesis of nanoparticles.