Potentially Bioactive Fungus Mediated Silver Nanoparticles

The potential biological activities of Aspergillus luchuensis-aided green synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Biosynthetic metals have attracted global attention because of their safety, affordability, and environmental friendliness. As a consequence, the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of Dill leaf-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus luchuensis was employed for the extracellularly synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A reddish-brown color shift confirmed that AgNPs were successfully produced. The obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, EDX, and zeta potential. Results demonstrated the creation of crystalline AgNPs with a spherical shape at 427.81 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum, and size ranged from 16 to 18 nm as observed by TEM. Additionally, the biogenic AgNPs had a promising antibacterial activity versus multidrug-resistant bacteria, notably, S. aureus, E. coli, and S. typhi. The highest growth reduction was recorded in the case of E. coli. Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated potent antifungal potential versus a variety of harmful fungi. The maximum growth inhibition was evaluated from A. brasinsilles, followed by C. albicans as compared to cell-free extract and AgNO3. In addition, data revealed that AgNPs possess powerful antioxidant activity, and their ability to scavenge radicals increased from 33.0 to 85.1% with an increment in their concentration from 3.9 to 1,000 μg/mL. Furthermore, data showed that AgNPs displayed high catalytic activity of safranin under light irradiation. The maximum decolorization percentage (100%) was observed after 6 h. Besides, the biosynthesized AgNPs showed high insecticidal potential against 3rd larval instar of Culex pipiens. Taken together, data suggested that endophytic fungus, A. luchuensis, is an attractive candidate as an environmentally sustainable and friendly fungal nanofactory.

Green-Based Approach to Synthesize Silver Nanoparticles Using the Fungal Endophyte Penicillium oxalicum and Their Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and In Vitro Anticancer Potential

A green-based approach for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles has gained tremendous attention in biomedical applications. Fungal endophytes have been recognized as a remarkable biological source for the synthesis of potential nanodrugs. The present study focuses on the fabrication of silver nanoparticles using the fungal endophyte Penicillium oxalicum (POAgNPs) associated with the leaf of the Amoora rohituka plant. Sharp UV-visible spectra at 420 nm appeared due to the surface plasmon resonance of POAgNPs and the reduction of silver salt. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups of bioactive compounds of P. oxalicum responsible for the reduction of silver salt and validated the synthesis of POAgNPs. A high degree of crystallinity was revealed through XRD analysis, and microscopy-based characterizations such as AFM, TEM, and FESEM showed uniformly distributed, and spherically shaped nanoparticles. Furthermore, POAgNPs showed a potential inhibitory effect against bacterial and fungal strains of pathogenic nature. POAgNPs also exhibited potential antioxidant activity against the synthetically generated free radicals such as DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide with EC50 values of 9.034 ± 0.449, 56.378 ± 1.137, 34.094 ± 1.944, and 61.219 ± 0.69 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, POAgNPs exhibited cytotoxic potential against the breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 with IC50 values of 20.080 ± 0.761 and 40.038 ± 1.022 μg/mL, respectively. POAgNPs showed anticancer potential through inhibition of wound closure and by altering the nuclear morphology of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Further anticancer activity revealed that POAgNPs induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells by differential expression of genes related to apoptosis, tumor suppression, and cell cycle arrest and increased the level of Caspase-3. The novel study showed that P. oxalicum-mediated silver nanoparticles exhibit potential biological activity, which can be exploited as nanodrugs in clinical applications.

Inorganic Nanoparticles in Bone Healing Applications

Modern biomedicine aims to develop integrated solutions that use medical, biotechnological, materials science, and engineering concepts to create functional alternatives for the specific, selective, and accurate management of medical conditions. In the particular case of tissue engineering, designing a model that simulates all tissue qualities and fulfills all tissue requirements is a continuous challenge in the field of bone regeneration. The therapeutic protocols used for bone healing applications are limited by the hierarchical nature and extensive vascularization of osseous tissue, especially in large bone lesions. In this regard, nanotechnology paves the way for a new era in bone treatment, repair and regeneration, by enabling the fabrication of complex nanostructures that are similar to those found in the natural bone and which exhibit multifunctional bioactivity. This review aims to lay out the tremendous outcomes of using inorganic nanoparticles in bone healing applications, including bone repair and regeneration, and modern therapeutic strategies for bone-related pathologies.

Search for Effective Approaches to Fight Microorganisms Causing High Losses in Agriculture: Application of P. lilacinum Metabolites and Mycosynthesised Silver Nanoparticles

The manuscript presents the first report to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using soil-inhabiting Purpureocillium lilacinum fungus cell filtrate as a promising fungicide and nematicide on two microorganisms causing high economic losses in agriculture. Methods: A fungus biomass was used as a reducing and stabilising agent in the process of NPs synthesis and then characterisation done by SEM, TEM, UV-Vis. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesised AgNPs was determined. Results: Synthesised AgNPs with a spherical and quasi-spherical shape with an average diameter of 50 nm were effective to inhibit A. flavus fungi and M. incognita root knot nematode, which are extremely pathogenic for plants. Application of the AgNPs led to 85% reduction of proliferation of A. flavus, to a 4-fold decrease of hatching of M. incognita plant-parasite juveniles from eggs, and to a 9-fold increase of M. incognita nematode mortality. Conclusions: Biosynthesised AgNPs can be used as an effective fungicide and nematicide for food safety and security and improvement of agricultural production, but further agricultural field trials are required to observe their effect on environment and other factors.