Advances in metal nanofabrication using microbial exopolysaccharides: Emerging biomedical applications

Natural polysaccharide-based nanoparticle (NPs) production has been receiving more attention recently. These exopolysaccharides (EPS) are easy to make, harmless, and inexpensive. On the other hand, interest in hydrocolloids and films has grown dramatically, and their use in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and fragrance, paper and textile, and oil industries is highly promising. In light of this, the current chapter goal is to describe a thorough approach for extracting and purifying EPS, one that includes screening, fermentation optimisation, pre-treatment, protein removal, precipitation, and purification. Due to the failure of conventional medical therapy, the evolution of drug resistance against cancer and microbiological diseases poses a serious threat to human wellness. As an alternative to traditional anticancer and antibacterial medicines, the production of numerous metallic (Ag, Au, Zn, and Ti) nanoparticles has gained importance. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) from bacteria are now being touted as a possible biological substrate for the environmentally friendly production of metal nanoparticles. NPs are efficiently reduced and stabilized by the polyanionic functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxylic, sulphate, and phosphate) found in EPS. While used against different types of cancer and pathogenic bacteria, EPS-mediated NPs show a broad variety of anticancer and antimicrobial abilities. Explores the use of bacterial EPS-mediated metal NPs in detail, including EPS extraction, the synthesis of green EPS-mediated NPs, their characterisation, and possible uses as anticancer, and antibacterial drugs. In summary, EPS-fabricated nanoparticles have a number of advantageous qualities that make them desirable for strategies based on nanotechnology and medicine. Their promise as alternatives to current cancer and microbial infection therapies is facilitated by their biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and sustainability, opening the door for fascinating developments in these specific fields.