TITLE:
Controllable Biosynthesis of Small Silver Nanoparticles Using Fungal Extract
AUTHORS:
Katrin Quester, Miguel Avalos-Borja, Ernestina Castro-Longoria
KEYWORDS:
Biosynthesis, Nanoparticles, Neurospora crassa
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.7 No.2,
April
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: The search for reliable and eco-friendly methods for the production of nanoscale materials is an
important aspect of nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are of special interest because
of their antimicrobial properties, especially those of small size. In this work, AgNPs were produced
under different conditions of temperature and pH using the extract from the fungus Neurospora
crassa as reducing agent. Mainly quasi-spherical particles were obtained at all incubation conditions.
However, optimum conditions to produce small sizes in the range of 2 - 9 nm were at 4°C and
pH 3, also particles of 2 - 22 nm were obtained at 25°C with unmodified pH (6.5) and pH 10. Nevertheless,
only particles synthesized at 25°C and pH 10 maintained the same size range after storage
of 10 months. In summary, optimal incubation conditions for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles
of small size range are reported. This improves the storage time of particles without losing
its original size and without going into aggregation or agglomeration.