*2.1. Biomedical Applications of Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Fusarium Spp.*

Biomedical application is an expanding field of research with tremendous prospects for the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases [70]. The dispersed

α

−

α β

nanoparticles are usually employed in nanobiomedicine as fluorescent biological labels [71], as well as drug and gene delivery agents [72].

The biologically synthesized AgNPs could have many applications in areas such as non-linear optics, spectrally selective coating for solar energy absorption and intercalation materials for electrical batteries, as optical receptors, catalysis in chemical reactions, bio labelling [73], and as antibacterial agents [74–76]. The biomedical applications of *Fusarium*-mediated synthesized nanoparticles are shown in Figure 6.

**Figure 6.** Biomedical applications of biogenic NPs synthesised from different *Fusaria*.

#### 2.1.1. Antibacterial Activity of Nanoparticles

Gupta and Chundawat [41] used *Fusarium oxysporum* for the production of platinum nanoparticles. The zones of inhibition against microbes were studied by the agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods. It helps to know the minimum inhibitory concentration of platinum NPs. The minimum inhibitory concentration of platinum NPs was found to be 62.5 µg ml−<sup>1</sup> for *E. coli*, which is relatively better than that of commercially available drug ampicillin. Also, the antioxidant activity was studied by the α, α-diphenylβ-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and platinum nanoparticles showed 79% scavenging activity. Duran and his co-workers [68] synthesised AgNPs by *Fusarium oxysporum* and integrated into the textile fabric for the inhibition of bacterial contamination such as *Staphylococcus aureus.*

The uropathogenic *Escherichia coli* (UPEC) form biofilms. The prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is due to the inaccessibility of the antibiotics into the highly complex structure of the biofilm. However, with the appearance of antibiotic multi-resistant UPEC strains, alternatives to the treatment of UTIs are fewer. AgNPs are an effective treatment of UPEC infections due to its physicochemical properties that confer them antibacterial activity against biofilm structured cells [54].

#### 2.1.2. Antiviral Activity of Nanoparticles

The interaction between AgNPs and viruses is attracting pronounced interest due to the potential antiviral activity of these particles. Elechiguerra et al. [77] reported that the smaller AgNPs are capable of reducing viral infectivity by inhibiting attachment to the host cells. It has been established that AgNPs undergo a size-dependent interaction with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and with human parainfluenza virus type 3. Also, the authors confirmed that smaller nanoparticles were able to decrease the infectivity of the

viruses [78]. Gaikwad et al. [30] synthesized AgNPs using *Fusarium oxysporum* and other fungi, which showed potential for reducing the replication of HSV-1, HSV-2, and HPIV-3 in cell cultures. The AgNPs formed by *F. oxysporum* were the most effective and presented low cytotoxicity [9].
