*Review Fusarium* **as a Novel Fungus for the Synthesis of Nanoparticles: Mechanism and Applications**

**Mahendra Rai 1,2,\* , Shital Bonde <sup>1</sup> , Patrycja Golinska <sup>2</sup> , Joanna Trzci ´nska-Wencel <sup>2</sup> , Aniket Gade <sup>1</sup> , Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam <sup>3</sup> , Sudhir Shende 1,4 , Swapnil Gaikwad <sup>5</sup> and Avinash P. Ingle <sup>6</sup>**


**Abstract:** Nanotechnology is a new and developing branch that has revolutionized the world by its applications in various fields including medicine and agriculture. In nanotechnology, nanoparticles play an important role in diagnostics, drug delivery, and therapy. The synthesis of nanoparticles by fungi is a novel, cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. Among fungi, *Fusarium* spp. play an important role in the synthesis of nanoparticles and can be considered as a nanofactory for the fabrication of nanoparticles. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from *Fusarium,* its mechanism and applications are discussed in this review. The synthesis of nanoparticles from *Fusarium* is the biogenic and green approach. Fusaria are found to be a versatile biological system with the ability to synthesize nanoparticles extracellularly. Different species of Fusaria have the potential to synthesise nanoparticles. Among these, *F. oxysporum* has demonstrated a high potential for the synthesis of Ag-NPs. It is hypothesised that NADH-dependent nitrate reductase enzyme secreted by *F. oxysporum* is responsible for the reduction of aqueous silver ions into AgNPs. The toxicity of nanoparticles depends upon the shape, size, surface charge, and the concentration used. The nanoparticles synthesised by different species of Fusaria can be used in medicine and agriculture.

**Keywords:** *Fusarium*; synthesis; nanoparticles; mechanism; medicine; agriculture; nanofactory; toxicity
