Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Antifungal Potential

Abstract: Metallic nanoparticles, specifically silver nanoparticles, find huge applications in health, medicine, and drug delivery. However, the physical and chemical synthesis methods pose challenges regarding gener, action of toxic by-products, or high energy requirements. Hence biosynthetic approaches have gained interest in the last few years utilizing various sources including yeast, fungi, bacteria, or plant extracts containing reducing and capping agents like quercetin, apocyanin, gallic acid, alkaloids, tannins, etc. The present review would throw light on plant extracts containing such reducing and capping agents for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, including the phytofactors and physicochemical parameters affecting the synthetic methods. Further characterization concerning the polydispersity index (ranging from 0-1) and zeta potential values (stable nanoparticles with ranges >+30 mV or <-30 mV) for improving stability would also be discussed. The potential and applications of silver based nanohybrids or nanocomposites will be described. The antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles has been shown in previous reviews. Antifungal potential of biosynthetic silver nanoparticles obtained from plant extracts like Croton sparsiflorus morong leaf extract or aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) pit evaluated on fungal strains will be illustrated in the present review. The underlying mechanism for the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles will also be discussed. At the conclusion, the list of patents on biosynthetic silver nanoparticles and the limitations and regulatory guidelines for commercial production will be illustrated.