FUNGI AS EFFICIENT NANOFACTORIES FOR NANOPARTICLE PRODUCTION: ADVANTAGES OF HIGH BIOMASS YIELD, EASE OF CULTIVATION, AND EXTRACELLULAR ENZYME SECRETION

Mahadev B. Suwarnkar*

Fungi are emerging as efficient biological nanofactories for the sustainable production of nanoparticles because of their high biomass yield, ease of cultivation, and remarkable metabolic versatility. Fungal systems can synthesize nanoparticles through both intracellular and extracellular pathways, with extracellular synthesis being particularly advantageous for large-scale production and downstream recovery. Secreted enzymes, proteins, organic acids, and other biomolecules act as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents, facilitating controlled nanoparticle formation and improving stability. Compared with conventional chemical methods, fungal-mediated synthesis offers environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and biocompatible alternatives. These advantages highlight fungi as promising platforms for scalable nanoparticle production for biomedical, catalytic, agricultural, and environmental applications.