Exploring biogenic microbial synthesis and biomedical applications of silver nanoparticles: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have emerged as crucial agents in cancer diagnosis and therapy within the field of nanomedicine. Their remarkable properties, including excellent conductivity, chemical stability, and catalytic antimicrobial activity, make them highly desirable. However, conventional physical and chemical synthesis methods are costly and pose risks of chemical absorption. Alternatively, shorter aging times and microbial synthesis offer environmentally friendly and cost-effective approaches. Extracellular synthesis, in particular, offers advantages such as easy handling of fermentation broth, size control, and straightforward processing. Moreover, it allows for a broader range of particle sizes compared to intracellular methods. Various factors, including temperature, biomass concentration, reaction time, and silver nitrate concentration, influence Ag-NPs synthesis and size distribution. Achieving monodispersity remains a challenge in biosynthesis, but direct control of parameters like pH, substrate content, and reaction conditions can improve synthesis outcomes. Properly utilized, Ag-NPs can ensure concentrated and precise drug distribution, offering promising solutions to microbial resistance and potentially revolutionizing drug delivery strategies.

Keywords

• Biogenic microbial synthesis
• Ag-NPs
• Cyano bacteria
• Green algae
• Cytotoxicity
• Antimicrobial