Fungi as nanofactories for

biosynthesis
of nanoparticles
 Nano Particles

The nano particles are those which are 2nm-100nm

in size
The size of 10 H atoms together represents 1 nm.
The surface to volume ratio increase as the size
decrease.
Due to increase surface area, the properties of nano
particles like optical, mechanical, electronic property
etc change.
Due to change in optical properties colour variation
is seen in nano particles.
 Fungi in synthesis of nano
particles
Many species of fungi are used in synthesis of nano
particles.
Fungi are lower groups of non-flowering plants
(Cryptogams).
Their body is thallus like and composed of thread
like structure known as hyphae.
Most of the fungal species are microscopic.
The common nano particles synthesized by fungi are
Gold & Silver.
In addition to gold and Silver, Fungi has been used
to synthesize Zirconia, Titanium, Cadmium Sulfide,
Platinum.

Fungi secrete enzyme and proteins as reducing

agents which can be used for the synthesis of
metal nanoparticles of varying shape, size and
stability from metal salt.

Fabrication of nanoparticles by fungi is more

advantageous because their mycelia offer a large
surface area for interaction.
 Table 1: List of Fungi with their nanoparticles
Fungi Nanoparticle Size Shape Location
s (nm)
Alternaria alternate Au 12 Spherical Extracellul
ar
Aspergillus clavatus Au 24.4 Triangular Extracellul
ar
A. flavus Ag 8.92 Spherical Cellwall
A.fumigatus Ag 1.2 Spherical Extracellul
ar
A.niger Au 12.8 Spherical, Extracellul
elliptical ar

Candida albicans Au 5 Spherical Cell free

extract
C. glabrata Cds 20A0 Hexamer Intra and
extracellul
ar
Fusarium Pt 70 Rectangular Extracellul
oxysporum or ar
triangular
Penicillium Au 10-60 Spherical Extracellul
brevicompactum ar

Saccharomyces Au 15-20 Spherical Cellwall

cerevisiae
Trichoderma Ag 13-18 nanocrystall Extracellul
asperellum ine ar
Verticillium sp Au 20 spherical Cellwall
Alternaria alternate A. fumigatus

Aspergillus clavatus A. flavus

Candida glabrata C. albicans

A. niger Fusarium oxysporum

 Verticillium species Trichoderma asperellum

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Penicillium brevicompactum

 Application of nano
particles
The metal nanoparticles is of great application in our lives.
Silver nanoparticles have been used extensively in
antibacterial agents in drug industry, food storages, textile
coating.
The nanocrystalline silver dressing, creams, gel
effectively reduce bacterial infection in chronic wounds.
Nanoparticles can be used for the treatment of water to
avoid contamination of the environment.
Nanoparticles are used producing cosmetics, catalysts,
lubricants, fuel additives, paints, agrochemicals, in food
packaging, textile engineering, electronics, optics,
environmental sensing, nanomedicine, biodetection of
pathogens, tumour destruction etc.
 Reference
Ahmad, A, Mukherjee, P, Mandal, D, Senapati, S, Khan M,
Kumar, R and Sastry, M (2002): Enzyme mediated
extracellular synthesis of cds nanoparticles by the fungus
Fusarium oxysporum .Journal of the American Chemical
Society. 124(41): 12108-12109.
Ahmad, A, Mukherjee, P, Mandal, D, Senapati, S, Khan M,
Kumar, R and Sastry, M (2003): Extracellular biosynthesis
of silver nanoparticles by using the fungus Fusarium
oxysporum,Colloids Surf B, 28:3-8.
Basistha, B. R. (1996): Fungi, S. Chand limited.
Jain, N, Bhargava, A, Majumdar, S, Tarafdar J and Panwar,
J (2011): Extracellular Biosynthesis and characterization of
Silver nanoparticles using A. flavus NJP08: a mechanism
Perspective . Nanoscale 3(2): 635-641.
Raveendran, P, Fu, J, Wallen SL. J Am Virender, K. Sharma,
Ria, A (2003): Silver nanoparticles: Green synthesis and
their antimicrobial activities, Chem Soc, 125: 13940M.
THANK YOU