Engineering tailored nanoparticles with microbes: quo vadis?

Abstract

In the quest for less toxic and cleaner methods of nanomaterials production, recent developments in the biosynthesis of nanoparticles have underscored the important role of microorganisms. Their intrinsic ability to withstand variable extremes of temperature, pressure, and pH coupled with the minimal downstream processing requirements provide an attractive route for diverse applications. Yet, controlling the dispersity and facile tuning of the morphology of the nanoparticles of desired chemical compositions remains an ongoing challenge. In this Focus Review, we critically review the advances in nanoparticle synthesis using microbes, ranging from bacteria and fungi to viruses, and discuss new insights into the cellular mechanisms of such formation that may, in the near future, allow complete control over particle morphology and functionalization. In addition to serving as paradigms for cost-effective, biocompatible, and eco-friendly synthesis, microbes hold the promise for a unique template for synthesis of tailored nanoparticles targeted at therapeutic and diagnostic platform technologies.

Leveraging the Attributes of Mucor hiemalis-Derived Silver Nanoparticles for a Synergistic Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Platform

“…Based on its rapid growth and ability to withstand a wide spectrum of environmental conditions, we reasoned that M. hiemalis can be leveraged as a microbial platform for AgNP synthesis by seizing the Ag + ions from the AgNO 3 environment and reducing the ions into their elemental form with the help of the enzymes generated through cellular activities supported by Prasad et al (2016). Extracellular secretion of enzymes is especially advantageous for large-scale nanoparticle synthesis and isolation of nanoparticles produced.…”

“…Owing to this increased resistance of several pathogenic bacteria against antibiotics, considerable attention has been focused on developing new treatment modalities featuring alternative antibacterial agents (Aziz et al, 2014; Manikprabhu and Lingappa, 2014; Teillant et al, 2015). In this milieu, metallic silver, especially in the form of nanoparticle and nanostructured substrates, has received considerable traction for antibacterial activity due to its unique physiochemical properties (Husain et al, 2015; Prasad et al, 2016). While the antimicrobial activity of silver has been known for several centuries (Demling and De Santi, 2001), recent developments in the field of nanocrystalline silver have led to renewed interest (Paddock et al, 2007).…”

“…Inspired by the microbe’s ability to function under divergent extremes of temperature, pressure, and pH, several bacterial and algal chassis have been explored over the last decade by several groups, including our own laboratory (Nanda and Saravanan, 2009; Jain et al, 2011; Pantidos and Horsfall, 2014; Aziz et al, 2015; Patel et al, 2015). Notably, fungal-derived nanoparticle production shares these salient advantages and further combines facile scale up opportunities, economic viability, convenient processing and biomass handling, and faster biosynthesis rate in cell-free filtrate (due to the higher amount of proteins secreted in fungi with respect to bacteria) (Prasad et al, 2016). Moreover, the presence of fungal mycelia provides an increased surface area with the nanoparticles precipitated outside the cell being devoid of unnecessary cellular components and therefore amenable to direct use in applications of interest (Varshney et al, 2012; Kitching et al, 2014).…”

Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Perspectives

“…Green nanotechnology is a safe process, energy efficient, reduces waste and lessens greenhouse gas emissions. Use of renewable materials in production of such products is beneficial, thus these processes have low influence on the environment (Prasad et al, 2014, 2016). Nanomaterials are eco-environmentally sustainable and significant advances have been made in the field of green nanotechnology.…”

Carbon-decorated iron oxide hollow granules formed using a silk fibrous template: lithium-oxygen battery and wastewater treatment applications

“…1 Among the ways to manifest reliably various functions of iron oxides, the biomimetic mineralization approach features precisely controllable, sustainable and low-cost and environmentally benign to access multi-functional materials with highly ordered structures in various applications. 1,12 Previously, according to Fei et al, 13 the α-Fe 2 O 3 mesocrystals were fabricated via using silk fibrous template for the application to photocatalysts. This biomimetic mineralization approach is developed tuneable size and morphologies by simply varying the concentration of the silk fibroin.…”