Bioprospecting of Multitasking Fungi for Synthesizing Metal Nanoparticles for Environmental Applications

Environmental remediation is the current need of the hour, as there is a massive breakthrough of deforestation, industrialization, population growth, and much more. Nanotechnology has a huge contribution toward environmental remediation. Among the various organisms involved in green synthesis of nanomaterials, fungi are well-organized systems for the production of nanoparticles. Myconanotechnology can be defined as the production and consequential usage of nanoparticles by fungi, particularly in medical, environmental, and agricultural sectors. Fungi possess diverse metabolic capabilities and enzymatic machinery that enable them to efficiently reduce metal ions and stabilize resulting nanoparticles. Fungal synthesis of nanoparticles offers affordable environmentally friendly solutions for pollution and environmental remediation. This chapter explores the bioprospecting potential of fungi for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and their applications in environmental remediation of contaminated water (focusing on antibiotics, dyes, and heavy metals contamination), air, and soil.