Mycosynthesis, characterization, anticancer and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles from endophytic fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus

Abstract

Background: Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have wider range of biomedical applications. The present work synthesized Tp-AgNPs using mycelial extract of endophytic fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus (MEEF), characterized, and analyzed for antibacterial, anti-proliferation and cell wounding healing activities. Methods: The synthesized Tp-AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size analysis (PSA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Further, antibacterial activity was determined by Kirby-Bauer test and anti-proliferation activity was tested in human lung carcinoma A549 by water-soluble tetrazolium and flow cytometer assay. In addition, cell wounding healing activity was determined by scratch assay. Results: UV-Vis results displayed a strong absorption peak from 390 nm to 420 nm, which indicated the successful synthesis of Tp-AgNPs. FETEM-EDS results indicated the round and triangle shaped Tp-AgNPs with the average size of 25 nm in accordance with PSA. FTIR analysis indicated the involvement of various functional molecules from MEEF in the synthesis of Tp-AgNPs. XRD result proved nature of Tp-AgNPs as a high-quality crystal. The Tp-AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of bacterial pathogens at the minimal inhibitory concentration of 16.12 μg.mL^-1 for Gram⁺, and 13.98 μg.mL^-1 for Gram^- bacteria. Further, Tp-AgNPs (2 μg.mL^-1) showed a strong anti-proliferation effect in A549. Interestingly, Tp-AgNPs was not cytotoxic to normal NIH3T3 cells. In addition, the NPs exhibited a strong cell wounding healing activity. Conclusion: This work biosynthesized AgNPs with strong antibacterial, anticancer and cell wound healing properties using endophytic fungus T. purpureogenus.

Keywords: Talaromyces purpureogenus; antibacterial; anticancer; cell wound healing; mycosynthesis; silver nanoparticles.

Figure 1

. Synthesis of the Tp-AgNPs using the endophytic fungi extracts and their characterization by UV-visible spectrophotometer (A), FTIR analysis (B), Particle size analysis (C), XRD pattern analysis (D). Abbreviations: FTIR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; XRD, X-ray diffraction; Tp-AgNPs, Talaromyces purpureogenus silver nanoparticles.

Figure 2

FETEM image of Tp-AgNPs at <100 nm (A) and 20 nm (B). EDS-based mapping of the Ag (C) and carbon in Tp-AgNPs (D). EDS chromatograph of Tp-AgNPs (E). Abbreviations: FETEM, field emission transmission electron microscopy; Tp-AgNPs, Talaromyces purpureogenus silver nanoparticles; EDS, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; Ag, silver.

Figure 3

Cytotoxicity of Tp-AgNPs and AgNO₃ in A549 cells (A). Flow cytometry-based analysis of cell death in A549 cells untreated (B) and treated with Tp-AgNPs (C) and analysis of the ROS generation in A549 cells untreated (E) and treated with Tp-AgNPs (D). Abbreviations: CK, control group; Tp-AgNPs, Talaromyces purpureogenus silver nanoparticles; AgNO3, silver nitrate; ROS, reactive oxygen species.

Figure 4

Antibactrial activity of Tp-AgNPs: Staphylococcus aureus (A), Bcillus cereus (B), Salmonella entrica (C), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (D), and Escherichia coli (E). Ab – vancomycin; different concentrations of Tp-AgNPs solution: 25–100 µg mL⁻¹. Abbreviations: Tp-AgNPs, Talaromyces purpureogenus silver nanoparticles; Ab, vancomycin.

Figure 5

Wound healing effect of the Tp-AgNPs in NIH3T3 cells at different time intervals. Abbreviations: CK, control group; Tp-AgNPs, Talaromyces purpureogenus silver nanoparticles; NIH3T3, Swiss albino mouse embryo tissue.

Figure 6

The growth rate of wound healing effort of the Tp-AgNPs in NIH3T3 cells at different time intervals. Abbreviations: Tp-AgNPs, Talaromyces purpureogenus silver nanoparticles; NIH3T3, Swiss albino mouse embryo tissue.