Fungus-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their immobilization in the mycelial matrix: a novel biological approach to nanoparticle synthesis

Priyabrata Mukherjee, Absar Ahmad, Deendayal Mandal, Satyajyoti Senapati, Sudhakar R. Sainkar, Mohammad I. Khan, Renu Parishcha, P. V. Ajaykumar, Mansoor Alam, Rajiv Kumar, Murali Sastry

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1160 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A novel biological method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the fungus Verticillium is reported. Exposure of the fungal biomass to aqueous Ag+ ions resulted in the intracellular reduction of the metal ions and formation of silver nanoparticles of dimensions 25 ± 12 nm. Electron microscopy analysis of thin sections of the fungal cells indicated that the silver particles were formed below the cell wall surface, possibly due to reduction of the metal ions by enzymes present in the cell wall membrane. The metal ions were not toxic to the fungal cells and the cells continued to multiply after biosynthesis of the silver nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)515-519
Number of pages5
JournalNano Letters
Volume1
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

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