Microalgal Nanobiotechnology and Its Applications—A …
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are elongated, tubular structure, with average diameter of 1–2 nm (Ibrahim 2013).
They can be predicted as metallic or semiconducting based on their diameter telicity
(Aqel et al. 2012). They are widely produced by deposition of carbon precursors,
especially the atomic carbons, vaporized from graphite by laser or by electric arc
on to metal particles. Lately, they have also been produced through green approach
(Wang et al. 2018). They have high electrical conductivity, strong strength, and they
are very versatile (Astefanei et al. 2015) for different applications.
Metal NPs are basically made of metals precursors. Due to well-known localized
surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characteristics, they possess good optoelectrical
properties. Metallic nanoparticles such as copper, silver, and gold have abroad absorption band in the visible zone of the electromagnetic solar spectrum. The facet, size,
and shape controlled synthesis of metal NPs is important in cutting-edge materials
(Dreaden et al. 2012). Metallic nanoparticles are widely recognized due to their
broad range of applications such as catalysis, electronics, optics, and fabrication of
nanodevices. Ceramics nanoparticles are inorganic non-metallic solids, synthesized
through heating and successive cooling. They can be found in amorphous, polycrystalline, dense, porous, or hollow forms. They include oxides, carbonates, caribides,
and phosphates of metals and metalloids. They are receiving great attention because
of their application in many areas such as catalysis, photocatalysis, photodegradation
of dyes, and imaging applications (Thomas et al. 2015).
Semiconductor nanoparticles have broad bandgaps and thereby showed significant alteration in their properties with bandgap tuning. They are very useful in
photocatalysis, photo optics, and electronic devices (Koole et al. 2014). Varieties of
semiconductor nanoparticles are very efficient in water splitting applications owing
to their suitable bandgap and band edge positions (Hisatomi et al. 2015). Polymeric
nanoparticles are mostly nanospheres or nanocapsular shaped. They are readily functionalized and thus find bundles of applications in many areas (Abouelmagd et al.
2016). Furthermore, lipid-based nanoparticles are the types that possess a solid core
made of lipid with a matrix containing soluble lipophilic molecules. Lipid nanotechnology (Mashaghi et al. 2013) involves the fabrication of lipid-based nanoparticles
for various applications such as drug carriers and delivery (Yingchoncharoen et al.
2016).
4 Algal Nanobiotechnology
The abundance and ease of availability of algae make them very essential for
nanobiotechnological studies. The study of algae-mediated biosynthesis of nanomaterials had been taken to a newer branch named as phyconanotechnology (Sharma
et al. 2015). Algae are relatively simple to grow, along with several other advantages
such as synthesis of nanoparticles at low temperature with greater energy efficiency
and less toxicity to the ecosystem. The synthesis of nanoparticles is dose dependent, and it is also related to the type of algae used. Microalgae have gained lot
of interest in nanobiotechnology since they are very capable to bioremediate toxic
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are elongated, tubular structure, with average diameter of 1–2 nm (Ibrahim 2013).
They can be predicted as metallic or semiconducting based on their diameter telicity
(Aqel et al. 2012). They are widely produced by deposition of carbon precursors,
especially the atomic carbons, vaporized from graphite by laser or by electric arc
on to metal particles. Lately, they have also been produced through green approach
(Wang et al. 2018). They have high electrical conductivity, strong strength, and they
are very versatile (Astefanei et al. 2015) for different applications.
Metal NPs are basically made of metals precursors. Due to well-known localized
surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characteristics, they possess good optoelectrical
properties. Metallic nanoparticles such as copper, silver, and gold have abroad absorption band in the visible zone of the electromagnetic solar spectrum. The facet, size,
and shape controlled synthesis of metal NPs is important in cutting-edge materials
(Dreaden et al. 2012). Metallic nanoparticles are widely recognized due to their
broad range of applications such as catalysis, electronics, optics, and fabrication of
nanodevices. Ceramics nanoparticles are inorganic non-metallic solids, synthesized
through heating and successive cooling. They can be found in amorphous, polycrystalline, dense, porous, or hollow forms. They include oxides, carbonates, caribides,
and phosphates of metals and metalloids. They are receiving great attention because
of their application in many areas such as catalysis, photocatalysis, photodegradation
of dyes, and imaging applications (Thomas et al. 2015).
Semiconductor nanoparticles have broad bandgaps and thereby showed significant alteration in their properties with bandgap tuning. They are very useful in
photocatalysis, photo optics, and electronic devices (Koole et al. 2014). Varieties of
semiconductor nanoparticles are very efficient in water splitting applications owing
to their suitable bandgap and band edge positions (Hisatomi et al. 2015). Polymeric
nanoparticles are mostly nanospheres or nanocapsular shaped. They are readily functionalized and thus find bundles of applications in many areas (Abouelmagd et al.
2016). Furthermore, lipid-based nanoparticles are the types that possess a solid core
made of lipid with a matrix containing soluble lipophilic molecules. Lipid nanotechnology (Mashaghi et al. 2013) involves the fabrication of lipid-based nanoparticles
for various applications such as drug carriers and delivery (Yingchoncharoen et al.
2016).
4 Algal Nanobiotechnology
The abundance and ease of availability of algae make them very essential for
nanobiotechnological studies. The study of algae-mediated biosynthesis of nanomaterials had been taken to a newer branch named as phyconanotechnology (Sharma
et al. 2015). Algae are relatively simple to grow, along with several other advantages
such as synthesis of nanoparticles at low temperature with greater energy efficiency
and less toxicity to the ecosystem. The synthesis of nanoparticles is dose dependent, and it is also related to the type of algae used. Microalgae have gained lot
of interest in nanobiotechnology since they are very capable to bioremediate toxic