biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by fusarium solani isolates from agricultural soils in gorgan, iran

background and objectives: silver nanoparticles (agnps) are major nanomaterials with a variety of applications. the synthesis of nanoparticles by conventional methods is challenging and often requires use of hazardous chemicals. therefore, there is a growing need for development of environmentally and economically friendly processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles. this study aimed at biosynthesis of agnps using a filamentous fungus; fusarium solani. methods: twenty-four fusarium isolates were found from several soil samples collected from depth of 1-10 cm. all isolates were identified as f. solani based on morphological characteristics. the synthesis of nanoparticles were evaluated after 24, 48, 72 hours of culture. agnps were characterized using uv-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. results: the synthesized agnps showed maximum absorbance peak at 420 nm after 72 hours. moreover, most agnps were spherical with diameter of between 20 and 40 nm. conclusion: in this study, we introduced a simple biological process for biosynthesis of agnps using f. solani isolates from soil samples. the results indicate that fungi may be suitable for safe and cost-effective production of agnps.