Green mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles exhibiting antimalarial activity

In the present study, different parameters, affecting the growth of Thermomyces lanuginosus BJMDU1 and extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), were studied. Culture extract of thermophilic mould Thermomyces lanuginosus BJMDU1 showed potential in green synthesis of silver nanoparticles when the fungus was grown in a sucrose yeast extract medium (pH 8.0) at 45 degrees C. Mycosynthesis of AgNPs was enhanced in the presence of light using 2 mM AgNO3 and 200 mu l of culture extract at 50 degrees C. The reaction parameters significantly improved the synthesis of AgNPs. Techniques like UV-Vis & FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used to characterise AgNPs. Biogenic nanoparticles showed an absorption peak at 430 nm having 80 nm size. Biogenic AgNPs showed potent antibacterial and antiplasmodial activity with no haemolysis up to 40 mu g/ml. The p-nitrophenol was catalytically reduced to p-aminophenol by AgNPs. Therefore, green mycosynthesised AgNPs could be used in the therapeutics and remediation of environmental pollutants.