Antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics (AMR) and cancer and two of the main concerns that the healthcare system should face nowadays. Current drugs and antibiotic treatments are becoming ineffective or have plenty of drawbacks. Therefore, new alternatives are needed. Traditional synthesis of nanomaterials is subjected to several disadvantages, such as the production of toxic-by-products and harsh conditions. Green nanotechnology is presented as a suitable answer, allowing the generation of nanostructures in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly approach. Pathogenic bacteria and human cells -both cancer and healthy ones- were used for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. Bacteria and cells are cultured in the presence of metallic salts under standard conditions until the generation of nanoparticles, that is followed using microscopy and spectrophotometric techniques. Nanoparticles were used as antimicrobial and anticancer agents using colony counting unit assays and MTS assays, respectively, as well as characterized. Pathogenic bacteria are used for the synthesis of bacteriogenic metallic selenium nanoparticles. These agents were employed as suitable agents with antimicrobial activity against the same bacteria that synthesized them, showing low cytotoxicity for human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) cells. The synthesis of metallic nanomaterials using cancer and healthy cells -HDF and HFOB- is reported. Pure metal nanoparticles –palladium or platinum- and bimetallic structures –such as gold-platinum- are readily synthesized using the cells, and after purification, they are used as anticancer agents. Microbiological agents are successfully used as a synthetic machine for the generation of metallic nanoparticles of different compositions with biomedical properties. Therefore, they are presented as a suitable approach for the synthesis of nanomaterials in a green fashion, overcoming the limitations of traditional nanotechnology.

Biogenic metallic nanoparticles. A nanometric Trojan horse approach

2019 Spring National Meeting

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