Fungal silver nanoparticles: synthesis, application and challenges

Purpose: This paper aims to summarize recent developments regarding the synthesis, application and challenges of fungal AgNPs. Possible methods to overcome the challenge of synthesis and reduce the toxicity of AgNPs have been discussed. Materials and methods: This review consults and summary a large number of papers. Results: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have great potential in many areas, as they possess multiple novel characteristics. Conventional methods for AgNPs biosynthesis involve chemical agents, causing environmental toxicity and high energy consumption. Fungal bioconversion is a simple, low-cost and energy-efficient biological method, which could successfully be used for AgNPs synthesis. Fungi can produce enzymes that act as both reducing and capping agents, to form stable and shape-controlled AgNPs. Conclusions: AgNPs have great potential in the medical and food industries, due to their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-HIV, and catalytic activities. However, the observed in vitro and in vivo toxicity poses considerable challenges in the synthesis and application of AgNPs.