The use of plant extracts for making metallic nanoparticles is inexpensive,
easily scaled up and environmentally benign. It is especially
suited formaking nanoparticles that must be free of toxic contaminants
as required in therapeutic applications. The plant extract based synthesis
can provide nanoparticles of a controlled size and morphology. In
medicine, nanoparticles are being used as antimicrobial agents in bandages,
for example. Applications in targeted drug delivery and clinical
diagnostics are developing.