Mycosynthesis of metal-based nanoparticles and their perspectives in agri-food and veterinary/medical applications

Abstract

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that belong to the most widespread organisms on Earth, comprising a myriad of different species. Edible mushrooms have been used by mankind since time immemorial, both for direct consumption and for several fungal species that have found application in the food industry, for example, for the production of beverages and dairy products. With the technological advancement of mankind, macro and micro fungi have also begun to be used in biotechnology, and their secondary metabolites have served, for example, as model compounds for the subsequent design of drugs. Recently, owing to a number of biologically active secondary metabolites, fungi have found widespread use in the so-called green synthesis of nanoparticles. This chapter is focused on the use of fungal extracts, cell-free filtrates, and fungal enzymes of various types of fungi utilized for the preparation of metal nanoparticles, which, depending on the species of fungus or its products, have specific physicochemical, morphological, and biological properties. A lot of people and animals use these metal nanoparticles in a variety of ways. They can be used as nanofertilizer and herbicide, and they can also be used for things such as antioxidants and antibacterial agents. They can also be used to make food supplements for humans and animals.