An eco-friendly approach to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by extracellular components of Streptomyces albogriseolus has been reported. The isolated actinobacteria were genotypically identified by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, and the morphology was observed by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The preliminary characterization of synthesized nanoparticles was carried out using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The maximum absorption spectra were found to be 409 nm at the 48th hour of incubation. The yield of AgNPs was found to be 72.64% as quantified by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The average size of AgNPs determined by the dynamic light scattering technique was 16.25 ± 1.6 nm. The results from transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of spherical shaped and crystalline AgNPs. The interaction of protein with AgNPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The biosynthesized AgNPs inhibited the growth of food pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus). Hence, the synthesis of AgNPs by S. albogriseolus could be employed as a probable antimicrobial agent to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms. This approach employed for the synthesis of nanoparticles paves a path for new biomaterial interfaces, which could be applied in different biomedical fields. © 2012 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.