ABSTRACT
Nanomaterial’s synthesis has ensued utmost curiosity in research field due to their unique properties making them more efficiently applicable in different fields such as pharma and therapeutics, cosmetics, agriculture, and food industries. Biological synthesis of nanomaterials (NMs) is relatively cheap, rapid, ecofriendly, easy to scale up, and considerably less hazardous for mankind. Biological synthesis is efficient as compared to using traditional methods and provides comparatively more steadiness and monodispersity to the NMs. In this chapter, different sources are discussed that have been utilized for the efficient synthesis of nanomaterials. NMs synthesis can be done using bacteria, fungi, plants, yeast, algae, actinomycetes, etc. These sources provide efficient stabilizing and capping potential which reduces further addition of chemicals to avoid aggregation or other changes in NMs structure. Depending upon the reduction reactions between metal solution and biological metabolites, NMs may appear diversely. Based on different morphological appearances, an overview of different classes of NMs is discussed in this chapter.
Biogenic NMs have successfully been reported for diverse applications in different domain but these findings are limited only to publications and patents. A major portion of the chapter is dedicated to the possible applications of biogenic NMs along with the highlighted challenges and future possibilities for the societal benefits.
