Plant-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, biological applications, and toxicological considerations: A review

The unique optical, electrical, and catalytic properties shown by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted significant interest among researchers due to their tiny size. This work presents an overview of plant-mediated green synthesis as a viable and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional chemical methods for synthesizing AgNPs. Various plant components possess the capability to reduce and encapsulate biomolecules to facilitate a simple, one-pot synthesis of AgNPs. Temperature, pH, and reagent concentrations all have a substantial impact on the properties of nanoparticles. Various analytical techniques are used to ascertain morphological, structural, and compositional characteristics. Plant-mediated AgNPs exhibit a diverse array of biological functionalities, including antibacterial, anticancer, anthelmintic, imaging, and drug transport attributes. Their applicability in several fields, including food packaging, textiles, cosmetics, and electrical materials, is also studied. Nevertheless, the issue of potential environmental and human toxicity continues to pose a substantial challenge. The future objectives include the development of sustainable techniques, a wider range of applications in the biological fields, and the establishment of safety protocols for the safe use of AgNPs.