Biomolecules incorporated metallic nanoparticles synthesis and their biomedical applications

In recent years, colloidal metallic nanoparticles (CM NPs) have gained popularity due to their unique size, shape and composition dependent physicochemical properties and their potential use in a variety of scientific and technical fields. Although it was the general trend to use the two traditional methods, the physical and chemical methods, in the synthesis of NPs, for a long time the drawbacks of those methods have recently moved the focus to the use of biomolecules (DNA, protein, enzyme and plant extracts) in preparation of NPs. While the physical methods cannot provide adequate control of size, shape and monodispersity, the chemical methods rely on the usage of toxic solvents and reducing agents. To address these issues, to offer a solution to the problems posed by the traditional, i.e. physical and chemical methods, DNA, proteins, enzymes and plant extracts have been actively utilized as reducing agent and/or capping agent for both the reduction metal ions and growing of biocompatible NPs. Thus, the application of biomolecules-directed-NPs has increased, especially in medicine as molecular imaging, drug delivery, theranostic and antimicrobial agents. This review is mainly focused on the biosynthesis of metallic NPs and their potential applications in medicine. Thus, using biomolecules is become one of the most emerging and exciting research in synthesis of CM NPs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.