Fungus-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Aspergillus terreus.
The biosynthesis of nanoparticles has received increasing attention due to the growing need to develop safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies for nano-materials synthesis. In this report, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using a reduction of aqueous Ag(+) ion with the culture supernatants of Aspergillus terreus. The reaction occurred at ambient temperature and in a few hours. The bioreduction of AgNPs was monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the AgNPs obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The synthesized AgNPs were polydispersed spherical particles ranging in size from 1 to 20 nm and stabilized in the solution. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was found to be an important reducing agent for the biosynthesis, and the formation of AgNPs might be an enzyme-mediated extracellular reaction process. Furthermore, the antimicrobial potential of AgNPs was systematically evaluated. The synthesized AgNPs could efficiently inhibit various pathogenic organisms, including bacteria and fungi. The current research opens a new avenue for the green synthesis of nano-materials.
Department of Pathogenobiology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University Mycology Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; E-Mails:  guangquanli83@gmail.com  (G.L.);  hedan@jlu.edu.cn  (D.H.);  qianyq09@mails.jlu.edu.cn  (Y.Q.);  songgao850118@gmail.com  (S.G.);  cuiyan923@hotmail.com  (Y.C.).
Guangquan
G
Li
Dan
D
He
Yongqing
Y
Qian
Buyuan
B
Guan
Song
S
Gao
Yan
Y
Cui
Koji
K
Yokoyama
Li
L
Wang
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D018533:Biomass; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D009243:NAD / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009243:NAD; D012834:Silver