title: Advances in microbial biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles.
abstract: Metal nanoparticles are garnering considerable attention owing to their high potential for use in various applications in the material, electronics, and energy industries. Recent research efforts have focused on the biosynthesis of metal nanomaterials using microorganisms rather than traditional chemical synthesis methods. Microorganisms have evolved to possess molecular machineries for detoxifying heavy metals, mainly by employing metal-binding proteins and peptides. Biosynthesis of diverse metal nanoparticles has recently been demonstrated using such heavy metal detoxification systems in microorganisms, which provides several advantages over the traditional chemical synthesis methods. First, metal nanoparticles can be synthesized at mild temperatures, such as at room temperature, with less energy input. Second, no toxic chemicals or reagents are needed, and thus the process is environmentally friendly. Third, diverse metal nanoparticles, including those that have never been chemically synthesized, can be biosynthesized. Here, we review the strategies for the biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles using microorganisms, and provide future prospects.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-756, Republic of Korea. tjpark@cau.ac.kr.
authors: Tae Jung
authors: TJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2136, USA.
authors: Kyoung G
authors: KG
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 PLUS), BioProcess Engineering Research Center, Bioinformatics Research Center, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biotechnology and Institute for the BioCentury, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea. leesy@kaist.ac.kr.
authors: Sang Yup
authors: SY
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006046:Gold; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D006046:Gold
keywords: Biosynthesis; Metal nanoparticles; Metal-binding proteins; Simple synthesis method