A review on recent developments in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and its biomedical applications

Abstract

Green chemistry is the significant field of research as it offers simple, cost-effective, easy, biocompatible and eco-friendly methods for the synthesis of nanomaterials. With the development of nanotechnology, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has become important areas of research due to their various applications in industrial, pharmacological and medicinal fields as they exhibited good antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticoagulant, thrombolytic, cytotoxic and photocatalytic properties due to their chemical stability and good biocompatibility. The size, shape, concentration, agglomeration and some other factors of AgNPs depend on the methods used for the synthesis of nanomaterials. Various methods have been used by the researchers in the last few years for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using various microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, different parts of plants, agricultural wastes, arthropods and metabolites of arthropods. The use of microorganisms and plants for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles is very eco-friendly, time-saving and inexpensive methods. In this review, we have discussed the various synthetic methods for the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using microorganisms and plants. Also, the review explores the recent developments in antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of silver nanoparticles reported by the researchers during the last decade.