AimsTo characterize and explore the potential in extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus oryzae and to investigate the antifungal effect of chemically vs biologically synthesized AgNPs comparing with conventional antifungal drugs against Trichophyton rubrum. Methods and ResultsChemically synthesized AgNPs (Chem-AgNPs) coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were synthesized by chemical reduction method with glucose in PVP aqueous solution. Biologically synthesized AgNPs (Bio-AgNPs) were produced from the extracellular cell-free filtrate of P.chrysogenum MUM 03.22 and A.oryzae MUM 97.19. Among the commercial antifungal drugs, terbinafine exhibited the lower minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) range values of 0063-025gml(-1) for the clinical strains. Chem-AgNPs exhibited antifungal activity against all T.rubrum strains. Bio-AgNPs produced by the fungal cell-free filtrate of P.chrysogenum showed an antifungal activity higher than fluconazole but less than terbinafine, itraconazole and Chem-AgNPs. ConclusionThe synthesis parameters in future works should be carefully studied to take full advantage of all the potential of filamentous fungi in the synthesis of AgNPs. Significance and Impact of the StudyBio-AgNPs could be used as antifungal agents, namely against dermatophytes.