Mycosynthesis of Nanoparticles and their Applications

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Nanotechnology refers to the creation and application of materials at the nanoscale up to 100 nm in size. Metallic nanoparticles, specifically gold, silver, alloy, etc. are being applied for multiple purposes, from medical treatments, industrial production, including solar and oxide fuel batteries for energy storage, to large incorporation into diverse materials of everyday use such as cosmetics or clothes, optical devices, catalytic, bactericidal, electronic, sensor technology, biological labeling and treatment of some cancers. Nanoparticles can be synthesized chemically or biologically. Nature is like a large “bio-laboratory” comprising of plants, algae, fungi, yeast, etc., which are constituted of biomolecules. Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles is attractive due to the production of large quantities of proteins, high yields, easy handling, and low toxicity of the residues. Naturally occurring biomolecules have been recognized to play an effective role in the formation of nanoparticles with clear-cut shapes and sizes, thereby acting as driving forces for the designing of greener, safe, and environmentally good protocols for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Mycosynthesis was easy, cheap and eco-friendly, with simple nanoparticle downstream processing. Hence, in this book chapter, an emphasis has been given to mycosynthesis of nanoparticles, discussing the mechanisms and optimization of the synthesis, as well as the applications.