Bacteriogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles: mechanisms and applications

Abstract In modern nanotechnology, the synthesis of metal nanoparticles via a green route has been gaining much attention due to their widespread applications in many sectors. Among the various metal nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used in biomedical applications due to their unique optical, electrical, and photo-thermal properties. The syntheses of nanoparticles using conventional methods (including physical and chemical methods) have become obsolete due to high cost and use of toxic chemicals. Hence, there is a need to develop alternative, economical, and environmentally safe approaches to assemble nanoparticles. Since the last decade, the biological synthesis of metal nanoparticles employing bacterial cultures has emerged as a hopeful approach. Apart from synthesis, it is highly essential to elucidate molecular mechanisms in the bacteriogenic synthesis of nanoparticles for controlled size, shape, and dispersity. Therefore, in this article, we have emphasized the different mechanisms that have drawn on the bacteriogenic synthesis of AuNPs and their applications in various fields.