Phyto-Mediated Synthesis of Porous Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles From Withania somnifera Root Extract: Broad-Spectrum Attenuation of Biofilm and Cytotoxic Properties Against HepG2 Cell Lines

Abstract

There is grave necessity to counter the menace of drug-resistant biofilms of pathogens using nanomaterials. Moreover, we need to produce nanoparticles (NPs) using inexpensive clean biological approaches that demonstrate broad-spectrum inhibition of microbial biofilms and cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines. In the current research work, titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) NPs were fabricated through an environmentally friendly green process using the root extract of Withania somnifera as the stabilizing and reducing agent to examine its antibiofilm and anticancer potential. Further, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron micrograph (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques were used for determining the crystallinity, functional groups involved, shape, size, thermal behavior, surface area, and porosity measurement, respectively, of the synthesized TiO 2 NPs. Antimicrobial potential of the TiO 2 NPs was determined by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes , Serratia marcescens , and Candida albicans . Furthermore, at levels below the MIC (0.5 × MIC), TiO 2 NPs demonstrated significant inhibition of biofilm formation (43–71%) and mature biofilms (24–64%) in all test pathogens. Cell death due to enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production could be responsible for the impaired biofilm production in TiO 2 NP–treated pathogens. The synthesized NPs induced considerable reduction in the viability of HepG2 in vitro and could prove effective in controlling liver cancer. In summary, the green synthesized TiO 2 NPs demonstrate multifarious biological properties and could be used as an anti-infective agent to treat biofilm-based infections and cancer.

Green Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Acorus calamus Leaf Extract and Evaluating Its Photocatalytic and In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity

“…Biogenesis has grown rapidly in modern nanotechnology over the last few decades. The eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles has seen tremendous progress in nanoscience and its application in a wide range of fields such as the catalysis, antimicrobial [3], anticancer [4], target-specific drug delivery [5], and agriculture [6] fields. Recently, several biosynthesis methods have been suggested in order to develop potential sustainable synthesis techniques to reduce the use of hazardous materials for nanomaterials [7].…”

“…The green route is the more suitable option for nanoparticle synthesis, since it is more sustainable and ecofriendlier, while physical and chemical methods for synthesis are also possible [18]. Several researchers successfully synthesized TiO2 using eco-friendly plant materials such as leaves [3], roots [4], and fruits [19] for dye degradation. A range of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds have been found in common aqueous extracts from various medicinal plants that work as non-toxic capping and reducing agents, and shape and size control agents for synthesized nanoparticles [7,20].…”

Effective inhibition and eradication of pathogenic biofilms by titanium dioxide nanoparticles synthesized using Carum copticum extract

“…The result in agreement with the previous nding where a confocal microscopic analysis revealed that titanium oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Withania somnifera root extract inhibited the biolms formation of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, L. monocytogenes, S. marcescens, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) on the glass surface. 46 Further analysis of the alterations on the biolm's architecture by the treatment of TiO 2 -NPs was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The electron micrographs of control and TiO 2 -NPs treated biolms of test bacteria are shown in Fig.…”

Phyto-fabricated Nanoparticles and Their Anti-biofilm Activity: Progress and Current Status

“…Titanium oxide nanoparticles have a broad spectrum of applications like antibacterial, cosmetics, photocatalyst, wastewater treatment, and other medical fields. In fact, they are among the most extensively utilized nanoparticles attributed to their superior properties like non-toxic, stable, safe, and having surface activity (Al-Shabib et al, 2020). For instance, a study done by Narayanan et al showed that TiO 2 NPs prevented the growth of bacterial pathogens via the generation of ROS, DNA, and cell membrane damage (Narayanan et al, 2021).…”

“…Their results showed that at a concentration below MIC (0.5×MIC), TiO 2 NPs exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on biofilm development (43-71%) and mature biofilms (24-64%) in pathogens like P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, MRSA, Serratia marcescens, and Candida albicans. Consequently, they inferred that excessive ROS generation followed by cell death could be the possible cause for the compromised biofilm development in TiO 2 NP-treated pathogens (Al-Shabib et al, 2020).…”