Harnessing endophytic fungi for biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles and exploring their bioactivities

Abstract

In the light of the fast growing several applications of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in different industrial and agricultural sectors, this paper was conducted to explore the suitability of endophytic fungi as nano-factories for SeNPs. Thus, 75 fungal isolates were recovered from plant tissues and tested for their efficacy to biosynthesize SeNPs. Four promising strains were found able to synthesis SeNPs with different characteristics and identified. These strains were Aspergillus quadrilineatus isolated from the twigs of Ricinus communis, Aspergillus ochraceus isolated from the leaves of Ricinus communis, Aspergillus terreus isolated from the twigs of Azadirachta indica, and Fusarium equiseti isolated from the twigs of Hibiscus rose-sinensis. The synthesized SeNPs were characterized by several techniques viz., UV–Vis, X-ray diffraction, Dynamic light scattering analyses, High resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, to study their crystalline structure, particle sized distribution, and morphology. Furthermore, the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were evaluated. SeNPs synthesized by the four strains showed potent antifungal and antibacterial potentials against different human and phyto- pathogens. Moreover, SeNPs synthesized by the respective strains showed promising antioxidant power with IC50 values of 198.32, 151.23, 100.31, and 91.52 µg mL− 1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the use of endophytic fungi for SeNPs’ biosynthesis. The presented research recommends the use of endophytic fungi as facile one-pot production bio-factories of SeNPs with promising characteristics.

Exploring the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, biocompatibility, and larvicidal activities of selenium nanoparticles fabricated by endophytic fungal strain Penicillium verhagenii

“…The obtained results were compatible with those reported that the maximum SPR for Se-NPs synthesized by fungal strains lies in the range of 250–300 nm. For instance, among 75 endophytic fungal strains, only four strains identified as Aspergillus quadrilineatus, A. ochraceus, A. terreus , and Fusarium equiseti showed high activity for Se-NPs synthesis based on color change and maximum SPR which appeared at 265 nm 11 . Also, the maximum SPR of Se-NPs fabricated by Penicillium corylophilum and endophytic fungal strain P. crustosum was observed at 275 and 270 nm, respectively 14 , 23 .…”

“…Different fungal species have been used as catalysts for the biosynthesis of Se-NPs including Trichoderma harzianum , Aureobasidium pullulans , Phoma glomerata , and Mortierella humilis , in addition to the endophytic fungi of Aspergillus quadrilineatus , Aspergillus ochraceus , Aspergillus terreus , and Fusarium equiseti 11 , 12 . Recently, the promising medical applications of myco-synthesized Se-NPs derived from Penicillium citrinum and their efficacy as anti-cancer and antioxidants have been reported 13 .…”

Allotropy of selenium nanoparticles: Colourful transition, synthesis, and biotechnological applications

“…and yeasts ( Saccharomyces, Candida , etc.) have been reported in the last years to efficiently reduce Se oxyanions (Faramarzi et al, 2020; Herrero & Wellinger, 2015; Hussein et al, 2022; Liang et al, 2019). The molecular mechanisms proposed to be involved in the metabolic reduction pathway of inorganic Se to Se 0 are very similar to those reported for bacteria (Herrero & Wellinger, 2015; Lampis & Vallini, 2021).…”

A Review of Selenium (Se) Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Applications

“…While fungi are less efficient at reducing selenium precursors, they have also been used for SeNPs synthesis. Streptomyces interrogans was the first reported fungus to synthesize SeNPs, [ 40 ] with subsequent studies involving Saccharomyces , [ 41 ] Aspergillus , [ 42 ] Streptomyces , [ 43 ] and Cysticercus . [ 44 ] The mechanism of SeNPs production by microorganisms is not fully understood, but the synthesis of SeNPs by bacteria is thought to involve an allosteric reduction reaction.…”