Nanotechnology refers to the creation and application of materials at the
nanoscale up to 100 nm in size. Metallic nanoparticles, specifically gold, silver, alloy,
etc. are being applied for multiple purposes, from medical treatments, industrial
production, including solar and oxide fuel batteries for energy storage, to large
incorporation into diverse materials of everyday use such as cosmetics or clothes,
optical devices, catalytic, bactericidal, electronic, sensor technology, biological
labeling and treatment of some cancers. Nanoparticles can be synthesized chemically
or biologically. Nature is like a large “bio-laboratory” comprising of plants, algae,
fungi, yeast, etc., which are constituted of biomolecules. Biogenic synthesis of silver
nanoparticles is attractive due to the production of large quantities of proteins, high
yields, easy handling, and low toxicity of the residues. Naturally occurring
biomolecules have been recognized to play an effective role in the formation of
nanoparticles with clear-cut shapes and sizes, thereby acting as driving forces for the
designing of greener, safe, and environmentally good protocols for the synthesis of
nanoparticles. Mycosynthesis was easy, cheap and eco-friendly, with simple
nanoparticle downstream processing. Hence, in this book chapter, an emphasis has
been given to mycosynthesis of nanoparticles, discussing the mechanisms and
optimization of the synthesis, as well as the applications.
Keywords: Downstream process, Metallic nanoparticles, Mechanism, Nanotechnology.
