Not AvailableCopper nanoparticles have improved properties
compared to the bulk copper material. Copper nanoparticles
indeed find applications in gas sensors, heat transfer
fluids, catalysis, solar energy and batteries. Antibacterial
and antifungal activities of copper nanoparticles find
applications in the agriculture and healthcare sectors.
Nonetheless, careless use of copper nanoparticles may
cause environmental pollution and health effects. Here we
review the biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using plant
materials, named phytosynthesis, and micro-organisms.
We also discuss the effect of copper nanoparticles on crops
and pathogenic micro-organisms. Copper nanoparticles
varying in sizes from 5 to 295 nm have been synthesized
using leaf extracts and latex from plants, and using bacteria
and fungi. Biosynthesized copper nanoparticles show good
antimicrobial activity inhibiting the growth of pathogenic
bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Copper nanoparticles
enhance the germination and growth of some plants at
lower concentrations, whereas high concentrations result in
retarded growth.
Keywords Copper nanoparticles Biosynthesis
Antimicrobial activity Pathogenic micro-organisms
Agriculture crops Phytosynthesis
Introduction
Increasing agriculture production in economized way
without polluting the environment is a global challenge.
Agriculture and healthcare sectors have witnessed great
strides during recent past; still, many developing countries
face the threat of food/healthcare insecurity (Husen and
Siddiqi 2014). Exploiting the latest innovations in the field
of nanobiotechnology, researchers are trying to develop
alternative antimicrobial agents including cationic polymers,
metal nanoparticles and antimicrobial peptides
agains
