Algal Nanoparticles: Boon for Antimicrobial Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

Nanotechnology is the field that deals with nano-sized structures of different shapes. Nanoparticles are generally synthesized using inorganic materials with restricted usages. However, there has been a great demand for nanoparticles in various medical applications. In the recent times, the usage of antibiotics has increased, which also has adverse effects to the immune system. Nanotechnology paves way to find the alternate resources for antibiotics. Eco-friendly nanoparticles are synthesized using biological organisms such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae. Algae are said to be the reservoir of nanoparticles, and hence, they are also called as nanofactories. Algae are used to produce metallic nanoparticles that can be used as antimicrobial agents. This chapter discusses the types of nanoparticles, synthesis of nanoparticles from algae, different kinds of algae that produce antimicrobial nanoparticles, and mechanism of nanoparticle as an antimicrobial agent.