Researchers at Goa University have developed a novel method for producing gold nanoparticles, crucial in the delivery of anti-cancer drugs, using a specific species of mushroom indigenous to Goa. This method, detailed in the Geomicrobiology Journal, represents a significant stride towards reducing India's dependency on imports for these nanoparticles.
The conventional production of gold nanoparticles employs toxic chemical agents, but the team, led by Sujata Dabolkar and guided by scientist Nandakumar Kamat, has utilized termitomyces mushrooms, which flourish on termite mounds, to synthesize these nanoparticles in a non-toxic manner. Kamat highlighted the uniqueness of this approach, marking it as a world-first in utilizing edible biomass for nanoparticle synthesis. He also noted the significant diversity of mushrooms in Goa, with 35 out of 104 species and sub-species of termitomyces mushrooms found in the region, underscoring the local potential for this green production method.
Source: indianexpress.com