Abstract

Jha P.*, Saraf A., Rath D. and Sharma D.

ABSTRACT

Bacterial infections are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite numerous existing potent antimicrobial means. As antibiotics have been used up to a great extent against pathogenic bacteria, many bacterial strains have now developed resistance to those through genetic mutations. To overcome this, Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the most promising and attractive approach in health care industry due to its capability of modulating metals into their nano-size, which drastically changes the chemical, physical and optical properties of metal. Among all metals, gold is a well known biocompatible metal. Gold nanoparticles are of interest mainly due to their stability under atmospheric conditions, resistance to oxidation, and non cyto-toxicity. In recent times, due to the need of safe, clean, nontoxic, and eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles, biological or green synthesis is thought to be an advantage over physical and chemical methods. In this review, we have emphasized the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using fungus, antimicrobial potential of gold nanoparticles, and various mode of action of gold nanoparticles.