During the last decade, metal nanoparticles (MtNPs) have gained immense popularity due to their characteristic physicochemical properties, as well as containing antimicrobial, anti-cancer, catalyzing, optical, electronic and magnetic properties. Primarily, these MtNPs have been synthesized through different physical and chemical methods. However, these conventional methods have various drawbacks, such as high energy consumption, high cost and the involvement of toxic chemical substances. Microbial flora has provided an alternative platform for the biological synthesis of MtNPs in an eco-friendly and cost effective way. In this article we have focused on various microorganisms used for the synthesis of different MtNPs. We also have elaborated on the intracellular and extracellular mechanisms of MtNP synthesis in microorganisms, and have highlighted their advantages along with their challenges. Moreover, due to several advantages over chemically synthesized nanoparticles, the microbial MtNPs, with their exclusive and dynamic characteristics, can be used in different sectors like the agriculture, medicine, cosmetics and biotechnology industries in the near future.

Chronic wounds have emerged as a major cause of mortality, especially in patients with diabetes and other pathologies. Statistics indicate that chronic wounds affect around 6.5 million patients annually, with wound care and management incurring huge economic costs. Growing incidence of chronic wounds and associated pathologies along with the limitations of current therapies have established a strong need for novel and innovative approaches to accelerate wound healing. Conventionally, chronic wounds are addressed using various FDA-approved silver-based formulations and other biomaterials. However, the toxicity associated with these conventional approaches, along with the increased frequency of chronic wound cases, makes the development of alternative therapies for effective wound healing necessary. Recently, researchers have investigated the design and development of nanoparticles, especially inorganic metal nanoparticles, as promising candidates for addressing various pathological conditions, including wound healing. Several research groups, including ours, have designed numerous metal nanoparticles (including silver, gold, zinc oxide, cerium oxide, terbium hydroxide, silica, titanium oxide, copper) and demonstrated their wound-healing properties using in vitro and in vivo models. The rise of nanotechnology-based platforms in wound healing is evidenced by the tremendous impact and number of publications observed in recent years, which has emphasized the robust potential of inorganic nanomedicine for addressing wounds. Therefore, the importance of these inorganic nanomaterial-based interventions for wound-healing applications needs to be emphasized to inform and encourage scientists and young researchers globally to engage with this expanding area of biology and medicine. In this review article, we mainly focus on highlighting the role of inorganic nanomaterials and nanomaterial-based approaches for wound healing and tissue regeneration, along with their mechanistic properties, clinical status, challenges, and future directions.

In recent years, various nanomaterials have emerged as an exciting tool in cancer theranostic applications due to their multifunctional property and intrinsic molecular property aiding effective diagnosis, imaging, and successful therapy. However, chemically synthesized nanoparticles have several issues related to the cost, toxicity and effectiveness. In this context, bio-inspired nanoparticles (NPs) held edges over conventionally synthesized nanoparticles due to their low cost, easy synthesis and low toxicity. In this present review article, a detailed overview of the cancer theranostics applications of various bio-inspired has been provided. This includes the recent examples of liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, protein nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and viral nanoparticles. Finally, challenges and the future scopes of these NPs in cancer therapy and diagnostics applications are highlighted.

Magnetic nanomaterials belong to a class of highly-functionalizable tools for cancer therapy owing to their intrinsic magnetic properties and multifunctional design that provides a multimodal theranostics platform for cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. In this review article, we have provided an overview of the various applications of magnetic nanomaterials and recent advances in the development of these nanomaterials as cancer therapeutics. Moreover, the cancer targeting, potential toxicity, and degradability of these nanomaterials has been briefly addressed. Finally, the challenges for clinical translation and the future scope of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer therapy are discussed.