Green silver nanoparticles for drug transport, bioactivities and a bacterium (Bacillus subtilis)-mediated comparative nano-patterning featureElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Dynamic light scattering study and zeta potential distribution of SHGel-capped Ag NPs in water, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence micrograph of SHGel-capped Ag NPs, infrared spectral data for evaluating the formation of drug-SHGel-capped Ag NPs composites, hematological and serological parameters for

The 'green' synthetic aspects of functionally potent and biologically relevant nanomaterials are a crucial research objective. Pursuing this concept, we have investigated a green synthetic scheme for the sunlight-mediated generation of luminescent silver nanoparticles, which become stabilized via a supramolecular hydrogel (SHGel) network, as already reported by our group. In vitro and in vivo toxicity studies confirm the biologically relevant nature of SHGel-capped Ag NPs. Nontoxic SHGel-capped Ag NPs were intelligently used for the transport of drugs, including antifilarial and antibiotic agents, into cells. Apart from this activity, SHGel-capped Ag NPs and our previously reported nontoxic DNA hydrogel-capped Ag NPs are potent against pathogens and parasites. Most interestingly, the nanostructural patterns of SHGel- and DNA hydrogel-capped Ag NPs have been transformed into cotyledon- and flower bud-shaped forms of nanosilver, respectively, during their chemotherapeutic action against a particular bacterium, Bacillus subtilis . Transmission electron microscopy was used for the visualization of several patterns of nanosilver and the incorporation of Ag NPs into macrophages. Supramolecular hydrogel-capped non-toxic Ag NPs are effective for cellular drug transport and are potentially bioactive, which also leads to the formation of novel silver nanoparticles.