AUTHOR=Atalah Joaquín , Espina Giannina , Blamey Lotsé , Muñoz-Ibacache Sebastián A. , Blamey Jenny M. TITLE=Advantages of Using Extremophilic Bacteria for the Biosynthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles and Its Potential for Rare Earth Element Recovery JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.855077 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.855077 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

The exceptional potential for application that metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs) have shown, has steadily increased their demand in many different scientific and technological areas, including the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry, bioremediation, chemical synthesis, among others. To face the current challenge for transitioning toward more sustainable and ecological production methods, bacterial biosynthesis of MeNPs, especially from extremophilic microorganisms, emerges as a suitable alternative with intrinsic added benefits like improved stability and biocompatibility. Currently, biogenic nanoparticles of different relevant metals have been successfully achieved using different bacterial strains. However, information about biogenic nanoparticles from rare earth elements (REEs) is very scarce, in spite of their great importance and potential. This mini review discusses the current understanding of metallic nanoparticle biosynthesis by extremophilic bacteria, highlighting the relevance of searching for bacterial species that are able to biosynthesize RRE nanoparticles.