Two researchers in Goa have said that they synthesised gold nanoparticles from a wild mushroom species that is widely eaten as a delicacy in the coastal state. Mushrooms of the Termitomyces species, which grow on termite hills and is locally known as ‘roen olmi’, is an edible wild mushroom popular among Goans and consumed during the monsoons. According to the new research, this species of mushroom has been cultured in a pure three-dimensional pelletised form and successfully used to produce gold nanoparticles. The research, titled ‘Biosynthesis and characterisation of AuNPs produced using Termitomyces heimii Pellets’ was published recently in the Geomicrobiology Journal published by Taylor and Francis. On Tuesday, the researchers – Dr Sujata Dabolkar and Dr Nandkumar Kamat – presented the findings of their research before Aleixo Sequeira, Goa’s Environment Minister and chairman of the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB). They also shared a draft roadmap for the Goa government, saying that the “breakthrough” has vast economic and bioindustrial implications for Goa, which can benefit by sustainable use of this local mushroom species. The researchers said that with advancements in biomedical and biotechnological sciences, the demand for gold nanoparticles in various applications, such as targeted drug delivery, medical imaging and electronics manufacturing, is projected to skyrocket. Dr Nandkumar Kamat, a scientist who has been studying this variety of mushrooms for over three decades, said Goa has the largest species diversity and gene pool of the wild edible Termitomyces mushrooms. “For the first time, this species of mushroom has been brought in pure culture, grown as pellets, and used to produce gold nanoparticles. The breakthrough pioneers the use of an eco-friendly species for mass production of gold nanoparticles. Other countries are using very toxic chemical agents for production,” said Kamat. “This wealth belongs to the country and needs to be conserved and judiciously used for industrial applications by sharing benefits with the local community. The Nagoya protocol gives GSBB the mandate to use these resources for industries while sharing benefits with the local community,” he added. Dr Sujata Dabolkar, assistant professor at government college, Quepem, said, “Earlier, people used extracts. We have used pellets to synthesise gold nanoparticles. To prepare extracts, a lot of mushrooms are required, but for pellets, we need just one mushroom. The research is significant in its applications in the industrial and medicine sectors. Suppose one wants to deliver a drug in the body, one can place the drug on the nanoparticle and it can enter the body,” she said. Stating that gold nanoparticles are potentially lucrative in the global market, she added, “In February 2016, a single milligram of gold nanoparticles cost around $80, which equates to $80,000 dollars per gram.”
