Mushroom-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles: A green route to functional nanomaterials for biomedical and optoelectronic integration

Mushrooms are emerging as sustainable bio-factories for the green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) due to their rich content of bioactive compounds and natural reducing agents. In this study, we reviewed the literature focusing on mushroom species for the biosynthesis of NPs. These mushroom-mediated NPs exhibit potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti- inflammatory activities, highlighting their potential as biocompatible and cost-effective alternatives to conventional therapeutics, while offering potential for use in optoelectronic integration and other advanced technologies. Physicochemical characterization confirms their morphology, stability, and elemental composition, while mechanistic studies indicate action through membrane disruption, ROS (Reactive oxygen species) generation, mitochondrial damage, and protein/DNA interactions. Beyond this, the biomedical applications of NPs include tunable optical, catalytic, and electronic properties that underpin their relevance in optoelectronics, sensing, and environmental remediation technologies. Therefore, this study highlights the potential mushroom-mediated synthesis as an ecofriendly and sustainable strategy for producing nanoparticles, offering a controlled size, scalable, and versatile route to functional nanomaterials. The unique capabilities of nanoparticles derived from mushrooms have a great potential in enabling next-generation biomedical applications and advanced technological integrations, while at the same time assisting goals of global sustainability. • Mushrooms act as a bio-factories for the green nano-particles synthesis. • Myco-synthesis of nano-particles are eco-friendly and economically viable. • Myco-synthesis of metal nanoparticles were summarized • Myco-synthesized nanoparticles exhibit strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. • Biomedical activity mainly attributed to ROS generation, mitochondrial damage, and protein/DNA interaction.