Microbial Nanomaterial Synthesis: Types and Applications

The present chapter addresses synthesis of microbial nanomaterial, types, and applications. Nanomaterials can be made by combustion processes or can be purposely synthesized through scientific or engineering innovation to execute specific function. Production of nanomaterials through biogenic enzymatic processes has better quality compared to its counterpart produced via chemical processes. The biosynthesis of nanostructures involves a variety of biomolecules, including secondary metabolites, carbohydrates, and proteins released by different microbes. Extracellular polysaccharides aid the reduction of various metal ions and the stability of metal nanoparticles because proteins in bacterial membranes are crucial for titrating metal ions. Terpenoids and flavonoids, which are organic molecules, are efficient at stabilizing and sealing nanomaterials, which affect their overall composition, size, and form. Additionally, algae species and morphological diversity influence the secretion of nanostructures. Nanomaterials occupy a large surface area per volume ratio due to the arrangement of nanoscale size that contributed to their structures, together with indistinguishable proportions to biomolecules which enhance distinctive properties for numerous usages. Microbiologically produced nanomaterials offer a wide range of potential uses in a variety of industries, including agriculture, coatings, cosmetics, packaging, food, beverages, drug deliveries, bioremediation, biomedicine, diagnostics, and electronics production. Actually, scientists have started paying attention to this technology since the resulting nanoparticles displayed unique characteristics such as biocompatibility, a larger range of uses, cost-effective production techniques, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, a variety of natural biological resources, including plants, algae, fungi, actinomycetes, bacteria, viruses, and even secondary microbial metabolites, are utilized to manufacture nanoparticles.