Biosynthesis, characterisation and therapeutic applications of plant-mediated silver nanoparticles

Nanotechnology is one of the most studied domains, and nanoparticle synthesis, especially of silver nanoparticles, has gained special importance due to their properties, biocompatibility and applications. Today, the processes of nanoparticles synthesis tend toward the development of inexpensive, simple, non-toxic and environmentally friendly methods. Thus, the use of plants in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles has attracted considerable interest because biomolecules can act as both reducing and stabilizing agents. This survey aims at discussing the conditions for obtaining silver nanoparticles using plants and their characterization by several methods, such as FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, it examines some of the most common biological uses of silver nanoparticles: antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic.