Microbial Nanotechnology

This book provides an account of the biogenic synthesis of nanomaterials by using different microorganisms. The chapters are focused on the biosynthesis of various metal and metal oxide nanosized materials by using bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and algae, including mechanisms of microbial synthesis. Other chapters summarize recent developments of microbial-based nanostructures for the management of food-borne pathogens, plant pathogenic fungi, as nutrients, and biomedical applications. Microorganisms are discussed not only as biofactories for the synthesis of nanomaterials but also as removal agents of toxic metals from the environment. Exposure sources and ecotoxicity of microbially synthesized nanoparticles are also discussed.

Mahendra Rai, Ph.D., is a Senior Professor and UGC-Basic Science Research Faculty at the Department of Biotechnology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Maharashtra, India. He was Visiting Scientist in University of Geneva, Debrecen University, Hungary; University of Campinas, Brazil; Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland; VSB Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic; and National University of Rosario, Argentina. He has published more than 400 research papers in national and international journals. In addition, he has edited/authored more than 50 books and 6 patents.

Patrycja Golińska, Ph.D., currently works at the Department of Microbiology at Nicolaus Copernicus University as an Associate Professor. She received a fellowship of the Marshal of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship for the best doctoral students in 2006 and completed a one-year postdoctoral internship at the School of Biology, University of Newcastle, UK. She has twelve years of teaching and sixteen years of research experience. Dr. Golińska's scientific contribution encompasses more than 90 publications including 32 original articles and 5 book chapters. The main focus of Dr. Golińska's research is the biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles, mainly by actinobacteria, and their use to combat bacterial and fungal pathogens, the study of actinobacterial diversity in extreme biomes and the use of actinobacteria as a biocontrolling agent of fungal pathogens of plants.