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. 2024 Oct 14;16(10):e71502.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.71502. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Cerium Nanoparticles Using Spirulina platensis: Assessing Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Efficacy

Mathesh A  1 , Ramanathan Snega  1 , P Geetha Sravanthy  1 , Muthupandian Saravanan  1
Affiliations

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Cerium Nanoparticles Using Spirulina platensis: Assessing Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Efficacy

Mathesh A et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction: Spirulina platensis, a type of cyanobacterium (blue-green algae), is well known for its rich abundant nutritional profile and bioactive compounds, which contribute to various biological functions within the human body. The application of nanotechnology to Spirulina has the potential to further enhance its biological activity in biomedical assays.

Objective: This study aimed to utilize Spirulina platensis for the green synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO-NPs) and evaluate their physiochemical properties. The research will assess the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory efficacy of the synthesized nanoparticles and explore the underlying mechanisms of action.

Methodology: Spirulina platensis-mediated cerium oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by the green synthesis (titration method). The biosynthesized CeO-NPs are characterized by using techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). Antibacterial activity was carried out by the agar-well diffusion method and anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by the albumin denaturation method.

Result: The green synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO-NPs) using Spirulina, a sustainable and eco-friendly method has potential application in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapies. This study focuses on the green synthesis of CeO-NPs and characterizes them by using UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), SEM, and EDX. The UV-vis analysis confirmed the presence of CeO-NPs at a wavelength of 320 nm. FT-IR reveals four functional groups, such as C-O, N-O, and C=C stretches. XRD analysis showed higher crystalline and less amorphous content. SEM and EDX spectra were utilized to confirm the morphology (agglomerated square shape) and the elemental composition [Ce, O, C] in the CeO-NPs. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical strains and the anti-inflammatory activity revealed significant activity in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion: This study concluded that Spirulina-mediated CeO-NPs have potential as a drug in biomedical assays. Further in vitro and in vivo analysis is required to fully confirm their viability as a potential drug.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory; antibacterial activity; ceo-nps; environmental friendly; green synthesis; spirulina.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Synthesis of Spirulina-mediated CeO-NPs.
Synthesis of CeO-NPs from Spirulina (A) 150 mL of aqueous extract of Spirulina, (B) 25 mM of cerium nitrate hexahydrate, (C) titration method, (D) formation of CeO-NPs after 24 h of incubation, and (E) the powder form of CeO-NPS. CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles
Figure 2
Figure 2. UV-vis absorption spectrum of the CeO-NPs suspension.
UV-vis: UV-visible; CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles
Figure 3
Figure 3. Fourier transformed infrared spectra of the synthesized CeO-NPs.
CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles
Figure 4
Figure 4. X-ray powder diffraction spectra Spirulina mediated CeO-NPs.
CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles
Figure 5
Figure 5. SEM images of prepared CeO-NPs with different diameter distribution - (A) 0.5 µm scale and (B) 1 µm scale.
SEM: scanning electron microscopy; CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles
Figure 6
Figure 6. EDX images of synthesized CeO-NPs.
EDX: energy dispersive X-ray; CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles
Figure 7
Figure 7. Antibacterial activity of CeO-NPs from Spirulina - (A) E. coli, (B) MRSA, (C) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles; MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Figure 8
Figure 8. Anti-inflammatory activity of CeO-NPs.
CeO-NPs: cerium oxide nanoparticles; Std.: standard
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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