Bacterial Growth Inhibition Potential of Nanoparticles Mycosynthesized from Soil Penicillium Species

Abstract

Nanotechnology is one of the promising technologies for various science applications in 21st century. Nanoparticles synthesized through mycobiosynthesis are successfully used in wide area of science such as drug delivery agents in cancer biology, food processing, medicine, agriculture, biomedical, etc. The diverse applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) instigated us to biosynthesis them from soil fungus, characterize and explore them for biological applications in the current investigation. Mycobiosynthesis of Penicillium species isolated from the soil was confirmed by filtrate colour from colourless to pink colour. Further production of AgNPs in fungal filtrate was witnessed by their distinct absorption peak in UV-visible spectrophotometer at 440nm and four distinct powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks at 2? value of 38.4°, 44.5°, 64.90°, and 77.4°. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) analysis of AgNPs revealed various functional groups possibly associated with biosynthesis of AgNPs. High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analysis indicated presence of various sizes of AgNPs ranging from 10 to 90nm and 40-50nm being dominant sizes of nanoparticles. AgNPs evaluated for biological activity showed substantial antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Nanoparticles indicated significant inhibition of Escherichia coli growth at exponential to death phase of bacterial growth curve. In addition to antibacterial potential, AgNPs also revealed significant anti-diabetic activity with IC50 of 182µg when screened from 12.5 µg to 400 µg concentration. It is inferred that bio-fabrication of AgNPs from Penicillium sp with potential biological applications was successfully achieved using an environmental friendly technique.

Introduction

discusses the significant role of nanotechnology in various scientific fields, particularly focusing on the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using fungi, specifically Penicillium species, and their applications.

1. Nanotechnology and Nanoparticle Synthesis

Nanotechnology has revolutionized fields like medicine, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. Nanoparticles, especially AgNPs, are utilized in disease diagnosis, cancer imaging, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. Nanoparticle synthesis methods are broadly classified into two approaches:

• Top-down approach: Involves breaking down bulk materials into nanoscale particles using techniques like lithography and precision engineering.

• Bottom-up approach: Builds nanoparticles atom by atom or molecule by molecule using chemical and physical methods. This approach is cost-effective and efficient.

Biological methods of nanoparticle synthesis have gained popularity due to their eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, and high stability. These methods utilize organisms like fungi, plants, bacteria, and algae for nanoparticle production.

2. Fungal Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

Fungi, such as Penicillium species, are effective in the biosynthesis of AgNPs. They produce extracellular proteins that act as reducing and stabilizing agents, facilitating the formation of nanoparticles. These fungal-derived AgNPs exhibit potent biological activities due to the bioactive compounds synthesized by the fungi. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3. Isolation and Identification of Penicillium Species

Penicillium species were isolated from soil samples using the dilution plating technique. The fungi were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates and incubated at 30°C. Identification was based on colony morphology and microscopic examination using lactophenol cotton blue stain. Penicillium species were sub-cultured for further use in AgNPs production.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+2frontiersin.org+2nature.com+2

4. Mycobiosynthesis of AgNPs

The isolated Penicillium species were cultured in a specific medium containing glucose, yeast extract, ammonium sulfate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, and magnesium sulfate. After incubation, the fungal mats were washed and re-inoculated in Milli-Q water. Silver nitrate was added to the filtrate, and the formation of AgNPs was monitored by observing color changes and measuring absorbance using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer.

5. Analytical Characterization of AgNPs

The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using various analytical techniques:

• UV-VIS Spectrophotometry: Monitored the formation of AgNPs by observing the surface plasmon resonance peak.

• X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD): Determined the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles.frontiersin.org

• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): Identified functional groups involved in the synthesis process.

• High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM): Assessed the morphology and size of the nanoparticles.

6. Biological Applications of AgNPs

The synthesized AgNPs exhibited various biological activities:

• Antibacterial Activity: The AgNPs demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against human pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and S. aureus.

• Growth Curve Analysis: The impact of AgNPs on bacterial growth was studied, showing inhibition of bacterial proliferation.

• Alpha-Amylase Inhibition: The AgNPs exhibited anti-diabetic potential by inhibiting alpha-amylase activity, with an IC50 value determined through enzyme inhibition assays.

Conclusion

The study highlights the potential of Penicillium species in the eco-friendly biosynthesis of AgNPs with significant antibacterial and anti-diabetic properties. These findings open avenues for the development of novel therapeutic agents and applications in various biomedical fields.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mrs. Nethravathi K. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.