Biomedical Applications of Mycosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles Using Penicillium expansum ATTC 36200

Biomedical Promise of Aspergillus Flavus-Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles: A Green Synthesis Approach to Antiviral, Anticancer, Anti-Biofilm, and Antibacterial Applications

This study utilized Aspergillus flavus to produce selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in an environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable manner, targeting several medicinal applications. These biosynthesized Se-NPs were meticulously characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV), revealing their spherical shape and size ranging between 28 and 78 nm. We conducted further testing of Se-NPs to evaluate their potential for biological applications, including antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antibiofilm activities. The results indicate that biosynthesized Se-NPs could be effective against various pathogens, including Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028), Bacillus pumilus (ATCC 14884), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Clostridium sporogenes (ATCC 19404), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633). Additionally, the biosynthesized Se-NPs exhibited anticancer activity against three cell lines: pancreatic carcinoma (PANC1), cervical cancer (Hela), and colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), with IC50 values of 177, 208, and 216 μg/mL, respectively. The nanoparticles demonstrated antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HAV, achieving inhibition rates of 66.4% and 15.1%, respectively, at the maximum non-toxic concentration, while also displaying antibiofilm and antioxidant properties. In conclusion, the biosynthesized Se-NPs by A. flavus present a promising avenue for various biomedical applications with safe usage.

Selenium Nanoparticles as Neuroprotective Agents: Insights into Molecular Mechanisms for Parkinson's Disease Treatment

Oxidative stress and the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain are the main causes of Parkinson's disease (PD). Several nanoparticles have been used as therapeutics for PD. Despite their therapeutic potential, these nanoparticles induce multiple stresses upon entry. Selenium (Se), an essential nutrient in the human body, helps in DNA formation, stress control, and cell protection from damage and infections. It can also regulate thyroid hormone metabolism, reduce brain damage, boost immunity, and promote reproductive health. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), a bioactive substance, have been employed as treatments in several disciplines, particularly as antioxidants. Se-NP, whether functionalized or not, can protect mitochondria by enhancing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes in the brain. They can also promote dopamine synthesis. By inhibiting the aggregation of tau, α-synuclein, and/or Aβ, they can reduce the cellular toxicities. The ability of the blood-brain barrier to absorb Se-NPs which maintain a healthy microenvironment is essential for brain homeostasis. This review focuses on stress-induced neurodegeneration and its critical control using Se-NP. Due to its ability to inhibit cellular stress and the pathophysiologies of PD, Se-NP is a promising neuroprotector with its anti-inflammatory, non-toxic, and antimicrobial properties.

In vitro assessment of the effect of magnetic fields on efficacy of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles by Alborzia kermanshahica

Cyanobacteria represent a rich resource of a wide array of unique bioactive compounds that are proving to be potent sources of anticancer drugs. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have shown an increasing potential as major therapeutic platforms and led to the production of higher levels of ROS that can present desirable anticancer properties. Chitosan-SeNPs have also presented antitumor properties against hepatic cancer cell lines, especially the Cht-NP (Chitosan-NPs), promoting ROS generation and mitochondria dysfunction. It is proposed that magnetic fields can add new dimensions to nanoparticle applications. Hence, in this study, the biosynthesis of SeNPs using Alborzia kermanshahica and chitosan (CS) as stabilizers has been developed. The SeNPs synthesis was performed at different cyanobacterial cultivation conditions, including control (without magnetic field) and magnetic fields of 30 mT and 60 mT. The SeNPs were characterized by uv-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and TEM. In addition, the antibacterial activity, inhibition of bacterial growth, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), as well as the antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of SeNPs, were performed. The results of uv-visible spectrometry, DLS, and zeta potential showed that 60 mT had the highest value regarding the adsorption, size, and stabilization in compared to the control. FTIR spectroscopy results showed consistent spectra, but the increased intensity of peaks indicates an increase in bond number after exposure to 30 mT and 60 mT. The results of the antibacterial activity and the inhibition zone diameter of synthesized nanoparticles showed that Staphylococcus aureus was more sensitive to nanoparticles produced under 60 mT. Se-NPs produced by Alborzia kermanshahica cultured under a 60 mT magnetic field exhibit potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties, making them a promising natural agent for use in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.

Advances in selenium from materials to applications

Over the past few decades, single-element semiconductors have received a great deal of attention due to their unique light-sensitive and heat-sensitive properties, which are of great application and research significance. As one promising material, selenium, being a typical semiconductor, has attracted significant attention from researchers due to its unique properties including high optical conductivity, anisotropic, thermal conductivity, and so on. To promote the application of selenium nanomaterials in various fields, numerous studies over the past few decades have successfully synthesized selenium nanomaterials in various morphologies using a wide range of physical and chemical methods. In this paper, we review and summarise the different methods of synthesis of various morphologies of selenium nanomaterials and discuss the applications of different nanostructures of selenium nanomaterials in optoelectronic devices, chemical sensors, and biomedical applications. Finally, we discuss possible challenges for selenium nanodevices and provide an outlook on the future applications of selenium nanomaterials.

Endophytic Aspergillus hiratsukae mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities

In the current study, endophytic Aspergillus hiratsukae was used for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) for the first time. The characterizations were performed using X ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The obtained results demonstrated the successful formation of crystalline, spherical Ag-NPs with particle diameters ranging from 16 to 31 nm. The FT-IR studied and displayed the various functional groups involved, which played a role in capping and reducing agents for Ag-NPs production. The SEM-EDX revealed that the main constituent of the AS-formed sample was primarily Ag, with a weight percentage of 64.2%. The mycosynthesized Ag-NPs were assessed for antimicrobial as well as photocatalytic activities. The antimicrobial results indicated that the synthesized Ag-NPs possess notable antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Ag-NPs ranging from 62.5 to 250 μg/mL. Moreover, the biosynthesized Ag-NPs demonstrated weak antifungal activity against Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans, with MICs of 500 and 1,000 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, the mycosynthesized Ag-NPs exhibited photocatalytic activity toward acid black 2 (nigrosine) dye under both light and dark stimulation. Notably, After 300 min exposure to light, the nigrosine dye was degraded by 93%. In contrast, 51% degradation was observed after 300 min in darkness. In conclusion, Ag-NPs were successfully biosynthesized using endophytic A. hiratsukae and also exhibited antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities that can be used in environmental applications.

Biogenic selenium nanoparticles and selenium/chitosan-Nanoconjugate biosynthesized by Streptomyces parvulus MAR4 with antimicrobial and anticancer potential

BACKGROUND

As antibiotics and chemotherapeutics are no longer as efficient as they once were, multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens and cancer are presently considered as two of the most dangerous threats to human life. In this study, Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) biosynthesized by Streptomyces parvulus MAR4, nano-chitosan (NCh), and their nanoconjugate (Se/Ch-nanoconjugate) were suggested to be efficacious antimicrobial and anticancer agents.

RESULTS

SeNPs biosynthesized by Streptomyces parvulus MAR4 and NCh were successfully achieved and conjugated. The biosynthesized SeNPs were spherical with a mean diameter of 94.2 nm and high stability. Yet, Se/Ch-nanoconjugate was semispherical with a 74.9 nm mean diameter and much higher stability. The SeNPs, NCh, and Se/Ch-nanoconjugate showed significant antimicrobial activity against various microbial pathogens with strong inhibitory effect on their tested metabolic key enzymes [phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and nitrate reductase (NR)]; Se/Ch-nanoconjugate was the most powerful agent. Furthermore, SeNPs revealed strong cytotoxicity against HepG2 (IC50 = 13.04 μg/ml) and moderate toxicity against Caki-1 (HTB-46) tumor cell lines (IC50 = 21.35 μg/ml) but low cytotoxicity against WI-38 normal cell line (IC50 = 85.69 μg/ml). Nevertheless, Se/Ch-nanoconjugate displayed substantial cytotoxicity against HepG2 and Caki-1 (HTB-46) with IC50 values of 11.82 and 7.83 μg/ml, respectively. Consequently, Se/Ch-nanoconjugate may be more easily absorbed by both tumor cell lines. However, it exhibited very low cytotoxicity on WI-38 with IC50 of 153.3 μg/ml. Therefore, Se/Ch-nanoconjugate presented the most anticancer activity.

CONCLUSION

The biosynthesized SeNPs and Se/Ch-nanoconjugate are convincingly recommended to be used in biomedical applications as versatile and potent antimicrobial and anticancer agents ensuring notable levels of biosafety, environmental compatibility, and efficacy.

Green biosynthesis of bimetallic selenium-gold nanoparticles using Pluchea indica leaves and their biological applications

Increasing bacterial resistance and the negative impact of currently used antibacterial agents have produced the need for novel antibacterial agents and anticancer drugs. In this regard, nanotechnology could provide safer and more efficient therapeutic agents. The main methods for nanoparticle production are chemical and physical approaches that are often costly and environmentally unsafe. In the current study, Pluchea indica leaf extract was used for the biosynthesis of bimetallic selenium-gold nanoparticles (Se-Au BNPs) for the first time. Phytochemical examinations revealed that P. indica leaf extract includes 90.25 mg/g dry weight (DW) phenolics, 275.53 mg/g DW flavonoids, and 26.45 mg/g DW tannins. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques were employed to characterize Se-Au BNPs. Based on UV-vis spectra, the absorbance of Se-Au BNPs peaked at 238 and 374 nm. In SEM imaging, Se-Au BNPs emerged as bright particles, and both Au and Se were uniformly distributed throughout the P. indica leaf extract. XRD analysis revealed that the average size of Se-Au BNPs was 45.97 nm. The Se-Au BNPs showed antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 31.25, 15.62, 31.25, and 3.9 μg/mL, respectively. Surprisingly, a cytotoxicity assay revealed that the IC50 value toward the Wi 38 normal cell line was 116.8 μg/mL, implying that all of the MICs described above could be used safely. More importantly, Se-Au BNPs have shown higher anticancer efficacy against human breast cancer cells (MCF7), with an IC50 value of 13.77 μg/mL. In conclusion, this paper is the first to provide data on the effective utilization of P. indica leaf extract in the biosynthesis of biologically active Se-Au BNPs.

Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Pancreatic Functions and Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

Acute pancreatitis (AP) have been documented to have severe impact on pancreatic function. Frequent incidence of AP can result in chronic pancreatitis and thereby it can increase the probability of pancreatic cancers. This study intended to examine the effect of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) synthesized from Coleus forskohlii leaf extract on pancreatic function and AP in rat. Primarily, Se-NPs was fabricated using the C. forskohlii leaf extract. The synthesized nanomaterial was characterized through UV-visible, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopies. Notably, the zeta potential of Se-NPs was found to be -32.8 mV with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.18. Morphological analysis on SEM unveiled the spherical shape of Se-NP with an average particle size of 12.69 nm. Strikingly, cytotoxicity analysis on pancreatic cancer and normal cells unveiled the concentration-dependent toxicity profile. However, IC 50 value is lower in normal pancreatic cell lines in comparison to pancreatic cancer cells lines. Assessment of Se-NPs on AP rats revealed the positive impact of Se-NPs. It effectively decreased the amount of lipase, amylase, IL-1β, MDA, NO, and Bcl-2 while increased the glucose, insulin, HOMA-β and antioxidant potential in AP rats. In addition, an evaluation of Se-NPs in the pancreatic functions revealed the non-harmful effect of Se-NPs.

Antimicrobial Potency and E. coli β-Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition Efficacy of Phenazone-Based Molecules

In this investigation, 4-antipyrinecarboxaldhyde was reacted with methyl hydrazinecarbodithioate to afford the carbodithioate derivative 3. The as-prepared carbodithioate derivative 3 is considered to be a key molecule for the preparation of new antipyrine-1,3,4-thiadiazole-based molecules (4-9) through its reaction with the appropriate hydrazonoyl halides. Furthermore, a typical Biginelli three-component cyclocondensation reaction involving ethyl acetoacetate, 4-antipyrinecarboxaldhyde, and thiourea under the standard conditions is carried out in the presence of sulfuric acid to afford the corresponding antipyrine-pyrimidine hybrid molecule (10). The latter was submitted to react with hydrazine monohydrate to provide the corresponding hydrazide derivative (11) which, under reaction with ethyl acetoacetate in refluxing ethanol containing catalytic amount of acetic acid, afforded the corresponding derivative (12). The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was affirmed by their spectral and microanalytical data. We also screened for their antimicrobial potential (ZOI and MIC) and conducted a kinetic study. Additionally, the mechanism of biological action was assessed by a membrane leakage assay and SEM imaging technique. Moreover, the biological activities and the binding modes of these compounds were further supplemented by an in silico docking study against E. coli β-carbonic anhydrase. The amount of cellular protein released by E. coli is directly correlated to the concentration of compound 9, which was found to be 177.99 µg/mL following treatment with 1.0 mg/mL of compound 9. This finding supports compound 9's antibacterial properties and explains how the formation of holes in the E. coli cell membrane results in the release of proteins from the cytoplasm. The newly synthesized compounds represent acceptable antimicrobial activities with potential action against E. coli β-carbonic anhydrase. The docking studies and antimicrobial activity test proved that compound (9) declared a greater activity than the other synthesized compounds.

Pomegranate Peel Extract Stabilized Selenium Nanoparticles Synthesis: Promising Antimicrobial Potential, Antioxidant Activity, Biocompatibility, and Hemocompatibility

The green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) had been synthesized by pomegranate peel extract (PPE). The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the synthesized Se NPs, as well as their hemocompatibility, were investigated. Se NPs were characterized by UV-Vis., SEM, XRD, HR-TEM, DLS, EDX, FTIR, and mapping techniques. HR-TEM image represented the spheroidal forms with moderately monodispersed NPs with a mean diameter 14.5 nm. The SEM image of Se NPs, incorporated with PPE, exhibits uniform NP surfaces, and the appearance was clear. The antimicrobial results confirmed the potential of Se NPs to hinder the growth of some tested pathogenic microbes. Results revealed that Se NPs exhibited promising antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans where inhibition zones were 29, 16, 41, 22, and 54 mm, respectively. Likewise, it exhibited antifungal activity where the values of inhibition zones were 41, 40, 38, and 36 mm against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and A. niger, respectively. The antioxidant activities of Se NPs at concentrations 250-4000 µg/mL were greater than 90% in all cases. Se NP concentrations of 500 µg/mL or less are safe in usage according to hemocompatibility study. Se NPs had an IC50 of 113.73 µg/mL in a cytotoxicity experiment. Results revealed that Se NPs have promising anticancer activities against MCF7 and Mg63 cancerous cell line, where IC50 was 69.8 and 47.9 μg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, Se NPs were successfully biosynthesized using PPE for the first time; these Se NPs had promising antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

Bio-based antimicrobial food packaging films based on hydroxypropyl starch/polyvinyl alcohol loaded with the biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles

In the last decades, bio-based active food packaging materials have received much attention. It is known that the utilization of traditional materials for food packaging applications lack some critical characteristics such as resistance to the harmful microbes that cause a damage to the preserved foods. Therefore, the current study aimed to find an alternative packaging films comprises an efficient biopolymers. This research work was designed to prepare film mats using hydroxypropyl starch (HPS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), palmitic acid (PA) and biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). The fabricated films were coded as 1H, 2H, 3H and 4H based on the utilized concentration of ZnONPs. The biosynthesized ZnONPs and the bio-based films loaded with ZnONPs were characterized. The results revealed that ZnONPs exhibited nearly spherical shape and size ∼40 nm. The surface structure of the produced bioactive packaging films exhibited smooth with homogeneous features, excellent mechanical and thermal stability properties. The prepared bioactive packaging film loaded with ZnONPs (4H) exhibited superior antibacterial activity among other films against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with inhibition zones 15.1 ± 0.76 and 12.1 ± 0.71 mm respectively. Correspondingly, packing film 4H exhibited potential antifungal activity toward Aspergillus niger RCMB 02724, A. flavus RCMB 02782, Penicillium expansum IMI 89372 and Fusarium oxysporum RCMB 001004 with inhibition zones (16 ± 1.0, 22 ± 0.90, 18.0 ± 1.1 and12.3 ± 0.57 mm respectively). Moreover, all prepared films did not show cytotoxicity on the normal cell line (Wi38) and recorded biodegradability properties that reached around 85 % after four weeks in soil. Based on these results, the antimicrobial films comprising HPS/PVA and loaded with the biosynthesized ZnONPs can be considered as a suitable film for food packaging purposes.

Antifungal screening of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized by microcystin-producing Desmonostoc alborizicum

Metal nanoparticles exhibit excellent antifungal abilities and are seen as a good substitute for controlling different kinds of fungi. Of all known taxa, cyanobacteria have received significant consideration as nanobiofactories, as a result of the cellular assimilation of heavy metals from the environment. The cellular bioactive enzymes, polysaccharides and pigments can be used as reducers and coatings during biosynthesis. The probability of the antifungal activity of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to prevent plant fungi that can affect humans was evaluated and a toxic Iranian cyanobacterial strain of Desmonostoc alborizicum was used to study the biotechnology of SeNP synthesis for the first time. Characterization of nanoparticles with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed the formation of SeNPs in the range of 271-275 nm with the appearance of an orange color. Morphological examination of nanoparticles with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), revealed the spherical shape of nanoparticles. The results of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) showed 7 peaks and a hexagonal structure of average crystal size equal to 58.8 nm. The dispersion index of SeNPs was reported as 0.635, which indicated the homogeneity of the nanoparticle droplet size. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was + 22.7. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis exhibited a sharp and intense peak located at the wave number of 404 cm- 1, related to the SeNPs synthesized in this research. The results of the antifungal activity of SeNPs showed among the investigated fungi, Pythium ultimum had the highest resistance to SeNPs (14.66 ± 0.52 µg/ml), while Alternaria alternata showed the highest sensitivity (9.66 ± 0.51 µg/ml) (p < 0.05). To the best of our knowledge this is the first report concerning the characterization and antifungal screening of SeNPs biosynthesized by Iranian cyanobacteria, which could be used as effective candidates in medical applications.

Antimicrobial Activity of Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs) against Potentially Pathogenic Oral Microorganisms: A Scoping Review

Biofilms are responsible for the most prevalent oral infections such as caries, periodontal disease, and pulp and periapical lesions, which affect the quality of life of people. Antibiotics have been widely used to treat these conditions as therapeutic and prophylactic compounds. However, due to the emergence of microbial resistance to antibiotics, there is an urgent need to develop and evaluate new antimicrobial agents. This scoping review offers an extensive and detailed synthesis of the potential role of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in combating oral pathogens responsible for causing infectious diseases. A systematic search was conducted up until May 2022, encompassing the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Lilacs databases. We included studies focused on evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of SeNPs on planktonic and biofilm forms and their side effects in in vitro studies. The selection process and data extraction were carried out by two researchers independently. A qualitative synthesis of the results was performed. A total of twenty-two articles were considered eligible for this scoping review. Most of the studies reported relevant antimicrobial efficacy against C. albicans, S. mutans, E. faecalis, and P. gingivalis, as well as effective antioxidant activity and limited toxicity. Further research is mandatory to critically assess the effectiveness of this alternative treatment in ex vivo and in vivo settings, with detailed information about SeNPs concentrations employed, their physicochemical properties, and the experimental conditions to provide enough evidence to address the construction and development of well-designed and safe protocols.

A Review of the Antibacterial, Fungicidal and Antiviral Properties of Selenium Nanoparticles

The resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial drugs is an important problem worldwide. To solve this problem, active searches for antimicrobial components, approaches and therapies are being carried out. Selenium nanoparticles have high potential for antimicrobial activity. The relevance of their application is indisputable, which can be noted due to the significant increase in publications on the topic over the past decade. This review of research publications aims to provide the reader with up-to-date information on the antimicrobial properties of selenium nanoparticles, including susceptible microorganisms, the mechanisms of action of nanoparticles on bacteria and the effect of nanoparticle properties on their antimicrobial activity. This review describes the most complete information on the antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects of selenium nanoparticles.

Synthetic strategy towards novel composite based on substituted pyrido[2,1-b][1,3,4]oxadiazine-dialdehyde chitosan conjugate with antimicrobial and anticancer activities

Synthesis of new compounds that have biological activity is an indispensible issue in order to deal with the drug resistant bacteria. This wok reports preparation of a novel composite based on substituted pyrido[2,1-b][1,3,4] oxadiazine-dialdehyde chitosan (PODACs) conjugate. Firstly, a novel approach of synthesizing of a new substituted pyrido[2,1-b][1,3,4]oxadiazine-7-carboxylic acid (PO) is reported through reacting(Z)-N'-(1-(3-aminophenyl)ethylidene)-2-cyanoacetohydrazide with (Z)-ethyl 2-cyano-3-(pyridin-3-yl)acrylate. Then Dialdehyde chitosan (DACs) has prepared via periodat oxidation of chitosan (Cs). The synthesized compounds have studied via various spectroscopic instruments to validate their chemical structure such as nuclear magnetic resonance 1 H NMR, ¹³ C NMR, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The substituted pyrido [2,1-b][1,3,4]oxadiazine and the composite were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and unicellular fungi. The results revealed that, the composite exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, B. subtilis and C. albicans where inhibition zones were 19, 18, 36 and 20 mm respectively. Furthermore, the substituted pyrido [2,1-b][1,3,4]oxadiazine and the composite were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line as well as vero normal cell line. Results illustrated the prepared composite has anticancer activity against MCF7 where IC₅₀ was 238 µg/ml.

A review on synthesis and antibacterial potential of bio-selenium nanoparticles in the food industry

Effective control of foodborne pathogen contamination is a significant challenge to the food industry, but the development of new antibacterial nanotechnologies offers new opportunities. Notably, selenium nanoparticles have been extensively studied and successfully applied in various food fields. Selenium nanoparticles act as food antibacterial agents with a number of benefits, including selenium as an essential trace element in food, prevention of drug resistance induction in foodborne pathogens, and improvement of shelf life and food storage conditions. Compared to physical and chemical methods, biogenic selenium nanoparticles (Bio-SeNPs) are safer and more multifunctional due to the bioactive molecules in Bio-SeNPs. This review includes a summarization of (1) biosynthesized of Bio-SeNPs from different sources (plant extracts, fungi and bacteria) and their antibacterial activity against various foodborne bacteria; (2) the antibacterial mechanisms of Bio-SeNPs, including penetration of cell wall, damage to cell membrane and contents leakage, inhibition of biofilm formation, and induction of oxidative stress; (3) the potential antibacterial applications of Bio-SeNPs as food packaging materials, food additives and fertilizers/feeds for crops and animals in the food industry; and (4) the cytotoxicity and animal toxicity of Bio-SeNPs. The related knowledge contributes to enhancing our understanding of Bio-SeNP applications and makes a valuable contribution to ensuring food safety.

Phytofabrication of Selenium Nanoparticles with Moringa oleifera (MO-SeNPs) and Exploring Its Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential

The advancement in nanotechnology is the trigger for exploring the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles and their use in biomedicine. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize selenium nanoparticles using M. oleifera as a reducing agent and evaluate their antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. Our result demonstrated a change in the color of the mixture from yellow to red, and UV-Vis spectrometry of the suspension solution confirmed the formation of MO-SeNPs with a single absorbance peak in the range of 240-560 nm wavelength. FTIR analysis revealed several bioactive compounds, such as phenols and amines, that could possibly be responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the MO-SeNPs. FESEM + EDX analysis revealed that the amorphous MO-SeNPs are of high purity, have a spherical shape, and have a size of 20-250 nm in diameter, as determined by HRTEM. MO-SeNPs also exhibit the highest DPPH scavenging activity of 84% at 1000 μg/mL with an IC50 of 454.1 μg/mL and noteworthy reducing ability by reducing power assay. Furthermore, MO-SeNPs showed promising antidiabetic properties with dose-dependent inhibition of α-amylase (26.7% to 44.53%) and α-glucosidase enzyme (4.73% to 19.26%). Hence, these results demonstrated that M. oleifera plant extract possesses the potential to reduce selenium ions to SeNPs under optimized conditions with notable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

Bacterial Endophytes from Moringa oleifera Leaves as a Promising Source for Bioactive Compounds

Bacterial endophytes reside within the tissues of living plant species without causing any harm or disease to their hosts. Bacterial endophytes have produced a variety of bioactive compounds that can be used for different biomedical applications. In the current study, two bacterial endophytes were isolated from healthy Moringa oleifera leaves, and identified genetically as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Alcaligenes faecalis. Phytochemical results illustrated that A. faecalis produced phenolics at 547.2 mg/g, tannins at 156.7 µg/g, flavonoids at 32.8 µg/g, and alkaloids at 111.2 µg/g compared to S. maltophilia, which produced phenolics at 299.5 mg/g, tannins at 78.2 µg/g, flavonoids at 12.4 µg/g, and alkaloids at 29.4 µg/g. GC-MS analysis indicated that A. faecalis extract has 24 bioactive compounds, including 9 major compounds, namely octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid ethyl ester, octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, methyl stearate, nonacosane, indolizine, palmitoleic acid, and heptacosane. On the other hand, S. maltophilia extract has 11 bioactive compounds, including 8 major compounds, namely oleic acid, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, cis-2-phenyl-1, 3-dioxolane-4-methyl, ergotamine, diisooctyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and pentadecanoic acid. To check the safety of these extracts, the cytotoxicity of Ethyl acetate (EA) extracts of S. maltophilia and A. faecalis were evaluated against the Vero normal cell line, and the results confirmed that these extracts are safe to use. Moreover, results revealed that EA extracts of S. maltophilia and A. faecalis exhibited anticancer activity against the cancerous MCF7 cell line, where IC50 was 202.4 and 119.7 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, EA extracts of S. maltophilia had antibacterial and antifungal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and unicellular fungi. Likewise, the EA extract of A. faecalis exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity against Gram-positive bacteria, as well as unicellular fungi, but did not show any activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Also, EA extracts of S. maltophilia and A. faecalis exhibited moderate antioxidant activity where IC50 were 146.2 and 147.6 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the two isolated endophytic bacteria S. maltophilia and A. faecalis have promising bioactive compounds that have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

Biosynthesis, Characterization, and Antifungal Activity of Novel Trimetallic Copper Oxide-Selenium-Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Some Mucorales Fungi

Metal nanoparticles are assumed to be a new generation of biologically active materials. The integrations between more than one metal are synergetic multifunctional features. In the current study, trimetallic copper-selenium-zinc oxide nanoparticles (Tri-CSZ NPs) were successfully mycosynthesized using Aspergillus niger through an ecofriendly method for the first time. The biosynthesis of the particles was characterized using physiochemical and topographical analysis. The physiochemical analysis included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which affirmed that the biosynthesis of Tri-CSZ NPs relies on the functional groups of fungal filtrates. Additionally, the UV-visible and X-ray diffraction patterns were proposed for the formation of Tri-CSZ NPs; moreover, topography analysis confirmed that the micromorphology of the nanoparticles were similar to a stick, with ends having a tetragonal pyramid shape, and with an average nanosize of about 26.3 ± 5.4 nm. Cytotoxicity results reveled that the Tri-CSZ NPs have no cytotoxicity on the human normal cell line Wi 38 at low concentrations, where the IC50 was 521 µg/mL. Furthermore, the antifungal activity of the Tri-CSZ NPs was evaluated. The antifungal results revealed that the Tri-CSZ NPs have promising antifungal activity against Mucor racemosus, Rhizopus microsporus, Lichtheimia corymbifera, and Syncephalastrum racemosum, where the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 1.95, 7.81, 62.5, and 3.9 µg/mL, and the minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were 250, 62.5, 125, and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, Tri-CSZ NPs were successfully mycosynthesized using A. niger, which have a promising antifungal activity against fungi causing mucormycosis.

Carboxymethyl cellulose/sulfur-functionalized Ti-based MOF composite: synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer potentiality

Microbial resistance is the first morbidity and mortality cause for patients as usually a secondary infection. Additionally, the MOF is a promising material that shows a nice activity in this field. However, these materials need a good formulation to enhance biocompatibility and sustainability. Cellulose and its derivatives are well as filers for this gap. In this presented work, a novel green active system based on carboxymethyl cellulose and Ti-MOF (MIL-125-NH₂@CMC) modified with thiophene (Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC) was prepared by a post-synthetic modification (PSM) route based. FTIR, SEM and PXRD were utilized to characterize nanocomposites. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to corroborate the nanocomposites' particle size and diffraction pattern as well as the DLS affirmed the size as 50 and 35 nm for MIL-125-NH₂@CMC and Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC, respectively. The formulation of the nanocomposites was validated by physicochemical characterization techniques, while morphological analysis confirmed the nanoform of the prepared composites. The antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor properties of MIL-125-NH₂@CMC and Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC were assessed. Antimicrobial testing revealed that Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC possesses greater antimicrobial activity than MIL-125-NH₂@CMC. Additionally, Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC demonstrated promising antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger where MICs were 31.25 and 0.97 µg/mL, respectively. Also, Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus where MICs were 1000 and 250 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the results demonstrated that Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC displayed promising antiviral activity against both HSV1 and COX B4, with antiviral activities of 68.89% and 39.60%, respectively. Furthermore, Thio@MIL-125-NH₂@CMC exhibited potential anticancer activity against MCF7 and PC3 cancerous cell lines, where IC₅₀ was 93.16 and 88.45%, respectively. In conclusion, carboxymethyl cellulose/sulfur-functionalized Ti-based MOF composite was successfully synthesized which had antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer activities.

Synthesis, Antimicrobial, and Antibiofilm Activities of Some Novel 7-Methoxyquinoline Derivatives Bearing Sulfonamide Moiety against Urinary Tract Infection-Causing Pathogenic Microbes

A new series of 4-((7-methoxyquinolin-4-yl) amino)-N-(substituted) benzenesulfonamide 3(a-s) was synthesized via the reaction of 4-chloro-7-methoxyquinoline 1 with various sulfa drugs. The structural elucidation was verified based on spectroscopic data analysis. All the target compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and unicellular fungi. The results revealed that compound 3l has the highest effect on most tested bacterial and unicellular fungal strains. The highest effect of compound 3l was observed against E. coli and C. albicans with MIC = 7.812 and 31.125 µg/mL, respectively. Compounds 3c and 3d showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but the activity was lower than that of 3l. The antibiofilm activity of compound 3l was measured against different pathogenic microbes isolated from the urinary tract. Compound 3l could achieve biofilm extension at its adhesion strength. After adding 10.0 µg/mL of compound 3l, the highest percentage was 94.60% for E. coli, 91.74% for P. aeruginosa, and 98.03% for C. neoformans. Moreover, in the protein leakage assay, the quantity of cellular protein discharged from E. coli was 180.25 µg/mL after treatment with 1.0 mg/mL of compound 3l, which explains the creation of holes in the cell membrane of E. coli and proves compound 3l's antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. Additionally, in silico ADME prediction analyses of compounds 3c, 3d, and 3l revealed promising results, indicating the presence of drug-like properties.

Selenium nanoparticles: Properties, preparation methods, and therapeutic applications

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are a unique type of nano-sized elemental selenium that have recently found wide application in biomedicine. It has been shown that the properties of SeNPs can be varied by different fabrication methods. Moreover, SeNPs have various therapeutic effects in medical applications due to their excellent biological and adaptable physical properties. At the same time, SeNPs can be used as a carrier medium for various therapeutic substances, which can bring out the full curative effects of the drugs. In this review, the differences in bioactivity properties of SeNPs prepared from different substances were reviewed; the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of SeNPs in cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, reproductive diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases were discussed; and the importance of the development of SeNPs was further emphasized.

Histopathological, Immunohistochemical, Biochemical, and In Silico Molecular Docking Study of Fungal-Mediated Selenium Oxide Nanoparticles on Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg, 1831) Snails

Daphnia magna and freshwater snails are used as delicate bioindicators of contaminated aquatic habitats. Due to their distinctive characteristics, selenium oxide nanoparticles (SeONPs) have received interest regarding their possible implications on aquatic environments. The current study attempted to investigate the probable mechanisms of fungal-mediated selenium nanoparticles' ecotoxicological effects on freshwater Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Daphnia magna. SeONPs revealed a toxicological impact on D. magna, with a half-lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 1.62 mg/L after 24 h and 1.08 mg/L after 48 h. Survival, fecundity, and reproductive rate were decreased in B. alexandrina snails exposed to SeONPs. Furthermore, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were markedly elevated, while albumin and total protein levels decreased. Histopathological damage in the hermaphrodite and digestive glands was detected by light, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry studies. The molecular docking study revealed interactions of selenium oxide with the ALT and AST. In conclusion, B. alexandrina snails and D. magna could be employed as bioindicators of selenium nanomaterial pollution in aquatic ecosystems. This study emphasizes the possible ecological effects of releasing SeONPs into aquatic habitats, which could serve as motivation for regulatory organizations to monitor and control the use and disposal of SeONPs in industry.

A mini review on green nanotechnology and its development in biological effects

The utilization of living organisms for the creation of inorganic nanoscale particles is a potential new development in the realm of biotechnology. An essential milestone in the realm of nanotechnology is the process of creating dependable and environmentally acceptable metallic nanoparticles. Due to its increasing popularity and ease, use of ambient biological resources is quickly becoming more significant in this field of study. The phrase "green nanotechnology" has gained a lot of attention and refers to a variety of procedures that eliminate or do away with hazardous compounds to repair the environment. Green nanomaterials can be used in a variety of biotechnological sectors such as medicine and biology, as well as in the food and textile industries, wastewater treatment and agriculture field. The construction of an updated level of knowledge with utilization and a study of the ambient biological systems that might support and revolutionize the creation of nanoparticles (NPs) are presented in this article.

Analysis of the antimicrobial potential of sericin-coated silver nanoparticles against human pathogens

The antibacterial activity of synthetic antimicrobial agents is well known, but most of them have several side effects and are effective against selective microbes. Recently, major concern for the microbiologists is to investigate for some stable, non-toxic, cheap, and eco-friendly antimicrobial agents with a wide range of bactericidal potential. A cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternate has been proposed in the form of green synthesized nanoparticles. The Present study was designed to fabricate sericin-coated silver nanoparticles (S-AgNPs) using sericin as stabilizer and reductant of silver ions and their antibacterial potential was evaluated at various concentrations and temperatures (8, 40, and 50°C). Antimicrobial activities were assessed by the agar well diffusion method. Antibacterial activity of S-AgNPs was measured at different concentrations (1-6 mg/ml) whereas; antifungal activity was tested at 5-20 mg/ml of S-AgNPs. Nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. These nanoparticles significantly subdued the growth of Clostridium difficile (18.7 ± 0.9 mm), Proteus mirabilis (12.3 ± 0.3 mm) and Bacillus licheniformis (10.7 ± 0.9 mm) and Aspergillus flavus (18.7 ± 2.0 mm), Mucor mycetes (13 .0 ± 1.5 mm), Candida albicans (15.3 ± 0.3 mm) and Aspergillus niger (10.0 ± 0.6 mm). S-AgNPs were stable at all temperatures and the maximum growth inhibition was found at 8°C for all pathogenic strains. We concluded that the S-AgNPs could be a potential candidate to inhibit the growth of bacterial and fungal pathogens at a wide range of environmental conditions like temperature. In various biomedical applications including antimicrobial and wound dressings, S-AgNPs can be used in the future to treat various bacterial and fungal infections.

Biosynthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles and Their Efficacy Towards Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Cytotoxicity, and Antioxidant Activities

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the emergence of multidrug-resistant and the slow advent of novel and more potent antitumor and antimicrobial chemotherapeutics continue to be of the highest concern for human health. Additionally, the stability, low solubility, and negative effects of existing drugs make them ineffective. Studies into alternative tactics to tackle such tenacious diseases was sparked by anticancer and antibacterial. Silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) were created from Trichoderma saturnisporum, the much more productive fungal strain. Functional fungal extracellular enzymes and proteins carried out the activities of synthesis and capping of the generated nano-metals. Characterization was done on the obtained Ag-NPs and Au-NPs through UV-vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM. Additionally, versus methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the antibacterial activities of Ag-NPs and Au-NPs were assessed. In particular, the Ag-NPs were more effective against pathogenic bacteria than Au-NPs. Furthermore, antibiofilm study that shown Au-NPs had activity more than Ag-NPs. Interestingly, applying the DPPH procedure, these noble metallic NPs had antioxidant activity, in which the IC₅₀ for Ag-NPs and Au-NPs was 73.5 μg/mL and 190.0 μg/mL, respectively. According to the cytotoxicity evaluation results, the alteration in the cells was shown as loss of their typical shape, partial or complete loss of monolayer, granulation, shrinking, or cell rounding with IC₅₀ for normal Vero cell were 693.68 μg/mL and 661.24 μg/mL, for Ag-NPs and Au-NPs, respectively. While IC₅₀ for cancer cell (Mcf7) was 370.56 μg/mL and 394.79 μg/mL for Ag-NPs and Au-NPs, respectively. Ag-NPs and Au-NPs produced via green synthesis have the potential to be employed in the medical industry as beneficial nanocompounds.

Potential Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Time-Kill Kinetic Essay and Ultrastructure of Pathogenic Bacterial Cells

Mycosynthesis of nanoparticle (NP) production is a potential ecofriendly technology for large scale production. In the present study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) have been synthesized from the live cell filtrate of the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. The created CuONPs were characterized via several techniques, namely Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, the biosynthesized CuONPs were performed against biofilm forming Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 51,983, Escherichia coli ATCC 35,218, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923, and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11,778. The anti-bacterial activity result was shown with the zone of inhibition determined to be 14 ± 0.31 mm, 16 ± 0.53 mm, 11 ± 0.57 mm, and 10 ± 0.57 mm respectively. Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli were more susceptible to CuONPs with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values 6.25 and 3.12 µg/mL, respectively, while for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, MIC value was 12.5 and 25 μg/mL, respectively. The minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) result was more evident, that the CuONPs have excellent anti-biofilm activity at sub-MIC levels reducing biofilm formation by 49% and 59% against Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli, while the results indicated that the MBIC of CuONPs on Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus was higher than 200 μg/mL and 256 μg/mL, respectively, suggesting that these CuONPs could not inhibit mature formatted biofilm of Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. Overall, all the results were clearly confirmed that the CuONPs have excellent anti-biofilm ability against Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli. The prepared CuONPs offer a smart approach for biomedical therapy of resistant microorganisms because of its promoted antimicrobial action, but only for specified purposes.

Green nanotechnology for controlling bacterial load and heavy metal accumulation in Nile tilapia fish using biological selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized by Bacillus subtilis AS12

Heavy metal accumulation and pathogenic bacteria cause adverse effects on aquaculture. The active surface of selenium (Se) nanoparticles can mitigate these effects. The present study used Se-resistant Bacillus subtilis AS12 to fabricate biological Se nanoparticles (Bio-SeNPs). The double-edged Bio-SeNPs were tested for their ability to reduce the harmful effects of heavy metals and bacterial load in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and their respective influences on fish growth, behavior, and health. The Bio-SeNPs have a spherical shape with an average size of 77 nm and high flavonoids and phenolic content (0.7 and 1.9 g g^-1 quercetin and gallic acid equivalents, respectively), resulting in considerable antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The Bio-SeNPs (3-5 μg ml^-1) in the current study resolved two serious issues facing the aquaculture industry, firstly, the population of pathogenic bacteria, especially Aeromonas hydrophilia, which was reduced by 28-45% in fish organs. Secondly, heavy metals (Cd and Hg) at two levels (1 and 2 μg ml^-1) were reduced by 50-87% and 57-73% in response to Bio-SeNPs (3-5 μg ml^-1). Thus, liver function parameters were reduced, and inner immunity was enhanced. The application of Bio-SeNPs (3-5 μg ml^-1) improved fish gut health, growth, and behavior, resulting in fish higher weight gain by 36-52% and a 40% specific growth rate, compared to controls. Furthermore, feeding and arousal times increased by 20-22% and 28-53%, respectively, while aggression time decreased by 78% compared to the control by the same treatment. In conclusion, Bio-SeNPs can mitigate the accumulation of heavy metals and reduce the bacterial load in a concentration-dependent manner, either in the fish media or fish organs.

Diversity of Biogenic Nanoparticles Obtained by the Fungi-Mediated Synthesis: A Review

Fungi are very promising biological objects for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. Biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles using different mycological cultures and substances obtained from them is a promising, easy and environmentally friendly method. By varying the synthesis conditions, the same culture can be used to produce nanoparticles with different sizes, shapes, stability in colloids and, therefore, different biological activity. Fungi are capable of producing a wide range of biologically active compounds and have a powerful enzymatic system that allows them to form nanoparticles of various chemical elements. This review attempts to summarize and provide a comparative analysis of the currently accumulated data, including, among others, our research group's works, on the variety of the characteristics of the nanoparticles produced by various fungal species, their mycelium, fruiting bodies, extracts and purified fungal metabolites.

Highly Efficient Biotransformation and Production of Selenium Nanoparticles and Polysaccharides Using Potential Probiotic Bacillus subtilis T5

Selenium is an essential microelement required for human health. The biotransformation of selenium nanoparticles has attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, little of the literature has investigated the comprehensive evaluation of the strains for practical application and the effect on the functional properties in the existence of Se. The present study showed the selenite reduction strain Bacillus subtilis T5 (up to 200 mM), which could produce high yields of selenium polysaccharides and selenium nanoparticles in an economical and feasible manner. Biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles by B. subtilis T5 were characterized systematically using UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, Zeta Potential, DLS, and SEM techniques. The biosynthesized SeNPs exhibited high stability with small particle sizes. B. subtilis T5 also possessed a tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts, high aggregation, negative hemolytic, and superior antioxidant activity, which showed excellent probiotic potential and can be recommended as a potential candidate for the selenium biopharmaceuticals industry. Remarkably, B. subtilis T5 showed that the activity of α-amylase was enhanced with selenite treatment to 8.12 U/mL, 2.72-fold more than the control. The genus Bacillus was first reported to produce both selenium polysaccharides with extremely high Se-content (2.302 g/kg) and significantly enhance the activity to promote α-amylase with selenium treatment. Overall, B. subtilis T5 showed potential as a bio-factory for the biosynthesized SeNPs and organ selenium (selenium polysaccharide), providing an appealing perspective for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Antifungal Activity of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Aspergilli Causing Aspergillosis: Ultrastructure Study

Currently, nanoparticles and nanomaterials are widely used for biomedical applications. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully biosynthesized using a cell-free extract (CFE) of Bacillus thuringiensis MAE 6 through a green and ecofriendly method. The size of the biosynthesized AgNPs was 32.7 nm, and their crystalline nature was confirmed by XRD, according to characterization results. A surface plasmon resonance spectrum of AgNPs was obtained at 420 nm. Nanoparticles were further characterized using DLS and FTIR analyses, which provided information on their size, stability, and functional groups. AgNPs revealed less cytotoxicity against normal Vero cell line [IC₅₀ = 155 μg/mL]. Moreover, the biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited promising antifungal activity against four most common Aspergillus, including Aspergillus niger, A. terreus, A. flavus, and A. fumigatus at concentrations of 500 μg/mL where inhibition zones were 16, 20, 26, and 19 mm, respectively. In addition, MICs of AgNPs against A. niger, A. terreus, A. flavus, and A. fumigatus were 125, 62.5, 15.62, and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ultrastructural study confirmed the antifungal effect of AgNPs, where the cell wall's integrity and homogeneity were lost; the cell membrane had separated from the cell wall and had intruded into the cytoplasm. In conclusion, the biosynthesized AgNPs using a CFE of B. thuringiensis can be used as a promising antifungal agent against Aspergillus species causing Aspergillosis.

Gamma Radiation Induced Synthesis of Novel Chitosan/Gold/Bioactive Glass Nanocomposite for Promising Antimicrobial, and Antibiofilm Activities

In the present study we reported, for the first time, the gamma irradiation induced synthesis of chitosan/Au/bioactive glass (CS/Au/BG) nanocomposite. The bioactive glass (BG), with the composition 45% SiO2, 32.5% CaO, 15% Na2O, and 7.5% P2O5 wt% was synthesized through the sol–gel technique. XRD, SEM, EDX, and elemental mapping images were utilized to evaluate the structure of pure BG and CS/Au/BG nanocomposite. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated by zone of inhibition (ZOI), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), growth curve assay, and Ultraviolet irradiation effect. Investigation was carried on the antibiofilm effectiveness. Membrane leakage as well as SEM imaging were used to evaluate the antibacterial reaction mechanism. The crystallite size of CS/Au/BG nanocomposite was determined via Scherer equation as 22.83 nm. CS/Au/BG possessed the most ZOI activity against the tested microbes. The highest inhibition % of BG, and CS/Au/BG nanocomposite was investigated for S. aureus (15.65%, and 77.24%), followed by C. albicans (13.32%, and 64.75%). The quantity of protein leakage was directly-proportional after increasing the concentration of BG, and CS/Au/BG and counted to be 70.58, and 198.25 µg/mL, respectively (after applied 10 mg/mL). The promising results suggested the use of novel CS/Au/BG nanocomposite as an encourage candidate for wastewater treatment application against pathogenic microbes.

Green Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Ag/Fe2O3 Nanocomposite Using Buddleja lindleyana Extract

In the study reported in this manuscript, silver/iron oxide nanocomposites (Ag/Fe₂O₃) were phytosynthesized using the extract of Buddleja lindleyana via a green, economical and eco-friendly strategy. The biosynthesized Ag/Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, XRD, TEM, DLS and SEM-EDX analyses. The particulates showed a triangular and spherical morphology having sizes between 25 and 174 nm. FTIR studies on the nanoparticles showed functional groups corresponding to organic metabolites, which reduce and stabilize the Ag/Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite. The antimicrobial efficacy of the phytosynthesized Ag/Fe₂O₃ against bacterial pathogens was assessed. In addition, Ag/Fe₂O₃ exhibited broad spectrum activities against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa with inhibition zones of 23.4 ± 0.75, 22.3 ± 0.57, 20.8 ± 1.6, and 19.5 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. The Ag/Fe₂O₃ composites obtained showed promising antibacterial action against human bacterial pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa), making them candidates for medical applications.

Unveiling Antimicrobial and Insecticidal Activities of Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles Using Prickly Pear Peel Waste

In the current study, prickly pear peel waste (PPPW) extract was used for the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles through a green and eco-friendly method for the first time. The biosynthesized SeNPs were characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDX, and mapping. Characterization results revealed that biosynthesized SeNPs were spherical, polydisperse, highly crystalline, and had sizes in the range of 10–87.4 nm. Antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities of biosynthesized SeNPs were evaluated. Results revealed that SeNPs exhibited promising antibacterial against Gram negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) and Gram positive (B. subtilis and S. aureus) bacteria where MICs were 125, 125, 62.5, and 15.62 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, SeNPs showed potential antifungal activity toward Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans where MICs were 3.9 and 7.81 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, tested crud extract and SeNPs severely induced larvicidal activity for tested mosquitoes with LC50 and LC90 of 219.841, 950.087 mg/L and 75.411, 208.289 mg/L, respectively. The fecundity and hatchability of C. pipiens mosquito were significantly decreased as applied concentrations increased either for the crude or the fabricated SeNPs extracts. In conclusion, the biosynthesized SeNPs using prickly pear peel waste have antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities, which can be used in biomedical and environmental applications.

Environmental Impacts of Ecofriendly Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Dyes Removal and Antibacterial Activity

Biosynthesized nanoparticles have a promising future since they are a more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, repeatable, and energy-efficient technique than physical or chemical synthesis. In this work, Purpureocillium lilacinum was used to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃-NPs). Characterization of mycosynthesized Fe₂O₃-NPs was done by using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. UV-vis gave characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak for Fe₂O₃-NPs at 380 nm. TEM image reveals that the morphology of biosynthesized Fe₂O₃-NPs was hexagonal, and their size range between 13.13 and 24.93 nm. From the XRD analysis, it was confirmed the crystalline nature of Fe₂O₃ with average size 57.9 nm. Further comparative study of photocatalytic decolorization of navy blue (NB) and safranin (S) using Fe₂O₃-NPs was done. Fe₂O₃-NPs exhibited potential catalytic activity with a reduction of 49.3% and 66% of navy blue and safranin, respectively. Further, the antimicrobial activity of Fe₂O₃-NPs was analyzed against pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus). The Fe₂O₃-NPs were clearly more effective on gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. subtilis) than gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). Thus, the mycosynthesized Fe₂O₃-NPs exhibited an ecofriendly, sustainable, and effective route for decolorization of navy blue and safranin dyes and antibacterial activity.

Green Biosynthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles Using Orange Peel Waste: Characterization, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

There is an increase of pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria globally due to the misuse of antibiotics. Recently, more scientists used metal nanoparticles to counteract antibacterial resistance. In this study, orange peel waste (OPW) was used for selenium nanoparticles’ (Se-NPs) biosynthesis through the green and ecofriendly method, and their applications as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. Green biosynthesized Se-NPs were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, and TEM. Characterization results revealed that biosynthesized Se-NPs were highly crystalline, spherical, and polydisperse, and had sizes in the range of 16–95 nm. The biosynthesized Se-NPs were evaluated as antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Results illustrated that Se-NPs exhibited potential antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus ATCC 29213 and biofilm-producing clinical isolates of S. aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, MDR, biofilm, and quorum-sensing and producing clinical isolates of MDR P. aeruginosa, MDR E. coli, and K. pneumonia). Moreover, results illustrated that S. aureus ATCC 29213 was the most sensitive bacteria to Se-NPs at 1000 µg/mL, where the inhibition zone was 35 mm and MIC was 25 µg/mL. Furthermore, Se-NPs at 0.25 and 0.5 MIC decreased the biofilm significantly. The largest inhibition of biofilm was noticed in MDR K. pneumonia, which was 62% and 92% at 0.25 and 0.5 MIC, respectively. In conclusion, Se-NPs were successfully biosynthesized using OPW through the green method and had promising antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can be used later in fighting resistant bacteria.

Multifunctional Silver Nanoparticles Based on Chitosan: Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Antifungal, Antioxidant, and Wound-Healing Activities

The purpose of this study is to create chitosan-stabilized silver nanoparticles (Chi/Ag-NPs) and determine whether they were cytotoxic and also to determine their characteristic antibacterial, antibiofilm, and wound healing activities. Recently, the development of an efficient and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles based on polysaccharides has attracted a lot of interest in the field of nanotechnology. Colloidal Chi/Ag-NPs are prepared by chemical reduction of silver ions in the presence of Chi, giving Chi/Ag-NPs. Physiochemical properties are determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses. TEM pictures indicate that the generated Chi/Ag-NPs are nearly spherical in shape with a thin chitosan covering around the Ag core and had sizes in the range of 9–65 nm. In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a resazurin-mediated microtiter plate assay. The highest activity was observed with the lowest concentration of Chi/Ag-NPs, which was 12.5 µg/mL for both bacterial strains. Additionally, Chi/Ag-NPs showed promising antifungal features against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, and Aspergillus niger, where inhibition zones were 22, 29, 20, and 17 mm, respectively. Likewise, Chi/Ag-NPs revealed potential antioxidant activity is 92, 90, and 75% at concentrations of 4000, 2000, and 1000 µg/mL, where the IC₅₀ of Chi/Ag-NPs was 261 µg/mL. Wound healing results illustrated that fibroblasts advanced toward the opening to close the scratch wound by roughly 50.5% after a 24-h exposure to Chi/Ag-NPs, greatly accelerating the wound healing process. In conclusion, a nanocomposite based on AgNPs and chitosan was successfully prepared and exhibited antibacterial, antibiofilm, antifungal, antioxidant, and wound healing activities that can be used in the medical field.

Promising Endophytic Alternaria alternata from Leaves of Ziziphus spina-christi: Phytochemical Analyses, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities

Fungal endophytes are considered one of the most important reservoirs of bioactive compounds which defeat resistant microbes. In our study, endophytic Alternaria alternata was isolated from Ziziphus spina-christi and identified morphologically and genetically with accession number OM 331,682. Preliminary phytochemical screening of ethyl acetate (EA) crude extract of A. alternata revealed that this extract contains alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, and terpenoids. Moreover, the extract was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) which verified the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. Antimicrobial results illustrated that EA crude extract exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 11229, Proteus vulgaris RCMB 004, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Klebsiella pneumonia RCMB 003), Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis RCMB 015, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990), and unicellular fungi (Candida albicans ATCC 90028). Ultrastructure study of treated K. pneumonia showed remarkably elucidated destruction of the cell wall and cell membrane and leakage of cytoplasmic materials. Furthermore, the extract has potential antioxidant activity where IC₅₀ was 409 µg/mL. Moreover, this extract did not show any toxicity on Vero normal cell line. These findings confirmed that the endophytic A. alternata from Z. spina-christi is a promising source of bioactive compounds which can be used in different biological applications.

Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Zea mays L. Using Endophytic Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus flavus infection of vegetative tissues can affect the development and integrity of the plant and poses dangerous risks on human and animal health. Thus, safe and easily applied approaches are employed to inhibit A. flavus growth. To this end, the fungal endophyte, i.e., Aspergillus fumigatus, was used as a safe biocontrol agent to reduce the growth of A. flavus and its infection in maize seedlings. Interestingly, the safe endophytic A. fumigatus exhibited antifungal activity (e.g., 77% of growth inhibition) against A. flavus. It also reduced the creation of aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁, 90.9%). At plant level, maize seedling growth, leaves and root anatomy and the changes in redox status were estimated. Infected seeds treated with A. fumigatus significantly improved the germination rate by 88.53%. The ultrastructure of the infected leaves showed severe disturbances in the internal structures, such as lack of differentiation in cells, cracking, and lysis in the cell wall and destruction in the nucleus semi-lysis of chloroplasts. Ultrastructure observations indicated that A. fumigatus treatment increased maize (leaf and root) cell wall thickness that consequentially reduced the invasion of the pathogenic A. flavus. It was also interesting that the infected seedlings recovered after being treated with A. fumigatus, as it was observed in growth characteristics and photosynthetic pigments. Moreover, infected maize plants showed increased oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂), which was significantly mitigated by A. fumigatus treatment. This mitigation was at least partially explained by inducing the antioxidant defense system, i.e., increased phenols and proline levels (23.3 and 31.17%, respectively) and POD, PPO, SOD and CAT enzymes activity (29.50, 57.58, 32.14 and 29.52%, respectively). Overall, our study suggests that endophytic A. fumigatus treatment could be commercially used for the safe control of aflatoxins production and for inducing biotic stress tolerance of A. flavus-infected maize plants.

Ecofriendly Synthesis of Biosynthesized Copper Nanoparticles with Starch-Based Nanocomposite: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities

In recent years, polysaccharides-based nanocomposites have been used for biomedical applications. In the current study, a nanocomposite based on myco-synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and starch was prepared. The prepared nanocomposite was fully characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), mapping, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results revealed that this nanocomposite is characterized by nano spherical shape ranged around 200 nm as well as doped with CuNPs with size about 9 nm. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the prepared nanocomposite were evaluated. Results revealed that CuNPs-based nanocomposite exhibited outstanding antibacterial and antifungal activity toward Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Bacillus subtilis ATCC605, Candida albicans ATCC90028, Cryptococcus neoformance ATCC 14,116, Aspergillus niger RCMB 02,724, A. terreus RCMB 02,574, and A. fumigatus RCMB 02,568. Moreover, CuNPs-based nanocomposite has a strong antioxidant activity as compared to ascorbic acid, where IC₅₀ was 18 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity test of CuNPs-based nanocomposite revealed that this nanocomposite is safe in use, where IC₅₀ was 185.1 µg/mL. Furthermore, CuNPs-based nanocomposite exhibited potential anticancer activity against MCF7 cancerous cell line where IC₅₀ was 62.8 µg/mL which was better than CuNPs alone. In conclusion, the prepared CuNPs with starch-based nanocomposite is promising for different biomedical applications as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

Study on the mechanism of inhibiting patulin production by fengycin

Penicillium expansum is the main cause of apple rot. Besides, it can also produce mycotoxin patulin (PAT). Therefore, the search for substances that can inhibit the activity and toxigenicity of P. expansum has become a hot research topic. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of fengycin on patulin production in P. expansum. P. expansum was cultured under different environments with different concentrations of fengycin. The patulin content produced per unit weight of P. expansum mycelium was detected and determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Synergy brands (SYBR) GreenI Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression levels of 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase (6-MSAS) and isoepoxydon dehydrogenase (IDH), which were the key genes of producing patulin of P. expansum mycelium, in the conditions treated by fengycin and untreated. After fengycin treatments, not only the patulin content in every unit weight of P. expansum mycelium but also the expression level of 6-MSAS decreased significantly. The expression level of 6-MSAS of treatment was 0.11 folds of control. However, the expression level of IDH treated by fengycin decreased slightly. Fengycin could inhibit the P. expansum from producing patulin by downregulating the expression of key synthetic genes 6-MSAS.

Antifungal Activity of Endophytic Aspergillus terreus Extract Against Some Fungi Causing Mucormycosis: Ultrastructural Study

Endophytes fungi are applied as favorable safe antifungal agents as well as natural bioactive compounds reservoir. In the current study, the inhibitory effect of endophytic fungus was explained by direct antifungal activity against fungi causing mucormycosis, ultrastructural, and determination of active compounds in fungal extract. Endophytic Aspergillus terreus was isolated from healthy Moringa oleifera leaves and identified morphologically and genetically, and was recorded in gene bank with accession number MW444551.1. Phytochemical analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) of ethyl acetate crude extract (EACE) of A. terreus were performed. GC–MS results of EACE of A. terreus revealed that fungal extract contains 16 major bioactive compounds with extensive pharmaceutical activities. Furthermore, EACE of A. terreus revealed a promising antifungal activity against fungi causing mucormycosis as Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor racemosus, and Syncephalastrum racemosum, where inhibition zones of EACE (10 mg/ml) were 20, 37, and 18 mm, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EACE was 0.3125 toward M. racemosus, while 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml against R. oryzae and S. racemosum, respectively. In the same context, treated R. oryzae, M. racemosus, and S. racemosum with EACE of A. terreus revealed elevation of membrane lipid peroxidation which approves membrane leakage. Furthermore, ultrastructure changes were observed which established alteration in both sporangium and hyphal structures; cell membrane and cytoplasm leakage. In conclusion, endophytic A. terreus has an outstanding antifungal activity against fungi causing mucormycosis.

Potential of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles to control Fusarium wilt disease in eggplant (Solanum melongena) and promote plant growth

In this study, a novel, non-toxic, eco-friendly zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) was used instead of the synthetic fungicides widely used to control the destructive phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum, the causative agent of wilt disease in Solanum melongena L. Herein, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs was carried out by Penicillium expansum ATCC 7861. In vitro, mycosynthesized ZnO-NPs exhibited antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum. In vivo, ZnO-NPs suppressed Fusarium wilt disease in cultivated Solanum melongena L. by decreasing the disease severity with 75% of plant protection. Moreover, ZnO-NPs stimulated the recovery of eggplant as an indicated by improving of morphological and metabolic indicators including plant height(152.5%), root length(106.6%), plant fresh biomass (146%), chlorophyll a (102.8%), chlorophyll b (67.86%), total soluble carbohydrates (48.5%), total soluble protein (81.8%), phenol (10.5%), antioxidant activity and isozymes compared with infected control. Therefore, this study suggests using mycosynthesized ZnO-NPs as an alternative to synthetic fungicides not only to eradicate the Fusarium wilt disease in cultivated eggplant (Solanum melongena) but also to promote the growth parameters and metabolic aspects.

Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activities of Durable Cotton Fabrics Treated with Nanocomposite Based on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles, Acyclovir, Nanochitosan, and Clove Oil

In this study, cotton fabrics based on zinc oxide nanoparticles in situ synthesis, acyclovir, nanochitosan, and clove oil were treated. The treated cotton fabrics were examined by FTIR, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, EDAX, and the surface roughness processing of FE-SEM images. The obtained characterization data emphasized the nano-size of nanocomposite with high homogeneity of particles in spherical shape as well as affirmed the deposition of nanocomposite onto the textile fibers with concluded that the deposition of nanocomposite was increased parallel with sonication time. Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of treated cotton fabrics were evaluated. Results revealed that treated cotton fabrics exhibited promising antibacterial activity toward Gram-positive higher than Gram-negative bacteria. Likewise, treated cotton fabrics are still effective as antibacterial after washing for 100 cycles. Moreover, treated cotton fabrics exhibited potential antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus fumigatus. The antiviral activity significantly depended on the type of virus. The treated cotton fabrics showed antiviral activity against tested viral particles (HSV-1, Adeno, and CoxB2) with viral inhibition of 95.9, 76.4, and 86.9% respectively, while in the case of coated cotton textile with acyclovir, it only exhibited viral inhibition of 49.9, 41, and 22.3% respectively.

Pseudomonas indica-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles: Antifungal and Antioxidant Biogenic Tool for Suppressing Mucormycosis Fungi

Mucormycosis is considered one of the most dangerous invasive fungal diseases. In this study, a facile, green and eco-friendly method was used to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Pseudomonas indica S. Azhar, to combat fungi causing mucormycosis. The biosynthesis of AgNPs was validated by a progressive shift in the color of P. indica filtrate from colorless to brown, as well as the identification of a distinctive absorption peak at 420 nm using UV-vis spectroscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicated the existence of bioactive chemicals that are responsible for AgNP production. AgNPs with particle sizes ranging from 2.4 to 53.5 nm were discovered using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pattern peaks corresponding to the 111, 200, 220, 311, and 222 planes, which corresponded to face-centered cubic forms of metallic silver, were also discovered using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, antifungal activity measurements of biosynthesized AgNPs against Rhizopus Microsporus, Mucor racemosus, and Syncephalastrum racemosum were carried out. Results of antifungal activity analysis revealed that the biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited outstanding antifungal activity against all tested fungi at a concentration of 400 µg/mL, where minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 50, 50, and 100 µg/mL toward R. microsporus, S. racemosum, and M. racemosus respectively. In addition, the biosynthesized AgNPs revealed antioxidant activity, where IC₅₀ was 31 µg/mL when compared to ascorbic acid (0.79 µg/mL). Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs showed no cytotoxicity on the Vero normal cell line. In conclusion, the biosynthesized AgNPs in this study can be used as effective antifungals with safe use, particularly for fungi causing mucormycosis.