Half a Decade Progress of Biomass-assisted Development of Zirconium Nanomaterials: Anti-microbial Potentials

Abstract: Nanotechnology has revolutionized all fields across the globe and opened up several frontiers in nanobiotechnology, nanopharmacotherapeutics, material and applied sciences, biomedical sciences, drug delivery, tumor therapy imaging, biosensing, electronics, bactericidal activity, catalysis, optics and photoelectrochemistry. Nature has provided abundant biological resources to synthesize NPs eco-friendly. Over the past few years, purified extracts of bacteria, fungi, algae, seaweeds and viruses have received adequate attention for the development of energy-proficient, non-toxic, economic nanoparticles (NPs). The present review article exclusively focuses on the last 5 years (January 2016 to December 2020) progress in the area of green synthesis of zirconium nanomaterials (zirconium NPs (Zr-NPs), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and zirconium/metal nanocomposites, Cu/ZrO2) by utilization of plant extracts, fungal extracts and seaweed extracts. The probable mechanism(s) of the formation of NPs by reduction with bioreductants is (are) also described briefly. Keywords: Zirconium, Nanoparticles, Plant, Fungi, Seaweed, Anti-microbial potentials.