Nanoparticles—Production and Role in Biotransformation

Renewed interest has arisen in the manufacture of nanoparticles due to their unusually enhanced physico-chemical properties and biological activities compared to the bulk parent materials. The industrial scale production and wide variety of application of nanoparticles has resulted in broad range applications in biotechnology, more recently in the increase in efficiency of biotransformation processes. Biotransformation processes utilized to form different bio-products and nanoparticles demonstrate various roles in the bio-products formation. In order to address the issue, it is necessary to understand the different methods available for synthesis of nanoparticles and their effects on biotransformation process, an efficient process for utilization of nanoparticles. In this review, an overview of physical, chemical and biological methods for synthesis of nanoparticles and their role in biotransformation process on formation of different bio-products, such as bioethanol, biohydrogen, biodiesel, enzymes and bioplastics is outlined. In fact, the nanoparticles are going to prove revolutionary in the field of biotransformation by improving the efficiency and yield and often widening the application range.