The extra-cellular biomimetic synthesis achieved by us evidently
occurs in two-steps which take place in quick succession––
in the first step certain biomolecules present in the
plant reduce the monovalent silver ion to uncharged atoms.
Then, as these atoms aggregate to reach nano-size, other biomolecules
from the plant envelope or ‘cap’ them to prevent
their further aggregation. This mechanism was proposed by
the early workers in this field (Shankar et al., 2003, 2004)
and nothing else has been reported so far to suggest it may
not be true.