Phytochemically Functionalized Silver and Gold Nanoparticles to Treat Microbes, Viruses and Cancer

Abstract

There is a growing interest for phytochemically-functionalized nanoparticles because such nanoparticles are easy to synthesize, cheap, ecofriendly, and they have medicinal properties. Indeed, conventional synthesis of nanoparticles often requires toxic chemicals and high energy, whereas phytochemical synthesis involves the participation of phenolics, proteins, polysaccharides and other begnin biomolecules. Here we review the green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles, using phytochemicals and alternative energy. We also review applications to treat microbes. Silver and gold nanoparticles, sized from 10 to 100 nm, showed a significant effect on microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Puccinia graminis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Nanoparticles also showed inhibitory …