Microbial nanobiotechnology: New solutions for bioremediation of heavy metals

Heavy metal pollution represents a critical menace to environmental health and human safety, largely due to the persistent occurrence and bioaccumulation of these toxic elements in ecosystems. Conventional remediation methods are often ineffective owing to their prohibitive costs and the risks of causing secondary pollution. A promising alternative is microbial bioremediation, which utilises the natural potential of microorganisms for the detoxification and stabilisation of heavy metals in polluted environments. Recent advances in microbial nanobiotechnology have accelerated these bioremediation processes through the incorporation of nanoscale materials and methods, thus substantially enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of heavy metal extraction processes. Microorganisms utilise a range of mechanisms for detoxifying heavy metals, such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms enable microbes to engage with heavy metals, converting them into less toxic forms or facilitating their elimination from polluted environments. The convergence of biological processes with nanotechnology has yielded novel nanomaterials that augment adsorption capacity and selectivity for heavy metals, ultimately resulting in improved remediation outcomes. This review explores the fundamental mechanisms by which microorganisms orchestrate heavy metal detoxification and examines the revolutionary impact of nanotechnology on these processes. It encompasses the synthesis and utilisation of microbial nanoparticles, the application of magnetic nanocarriers, and the construction of innovative nanobiomaterials for soil and water remediation. In addition, the review delineates current challenges with scalability, environmental safety, and long-term sustainability while suggesting future research directions involving artificial intelligence, multi-omics integration, and interdisciplinary innovations. By conflating microbial physiology with nanoscale engineering, microbial nanobiotechnology offers a robust platform for next-generation bioremediation solutions to the global problem of heavy metal pollution.

Keywords:

Nanobiotechnology , Heavy metal , Nanoparticle , Bioremediation