Eukaryotic Microorganisms as Biological Factories for the Preparation of Metal Nanoparticles

Abstract

The use of microorganisms as reducing and stabilizing agents in biogenic syntheses of metal nanoparticles is an attractive approach. There is a large number of potential bioagents able to yield big amounts of various biomolecules, and to prepare nanoparticles of diverse physicochemical properties. Microscopic fungi and algae are widely studied for the preparation of nanoparticles, mainly because of their ability to produce vast amounts of extracellular proteins, enzymes, and other metabolites that can actively participate in the metal reduction and also contribute to the nanoparticle stabilization. This results in highly stable metal nanoparticles with interesting properties that can be used, for example, as antimicrobial agents (especially Ag or Cu nanoparticles) or as catalysts. This review summarizes the main, promising representatives of microscopic fungi, yeasts, and algae used for the preparation of nanoparticles of various metals.