Antibacterial activity
The nontoxic nature and unique nanorelated properties of AgNPs and AuNPs endow them with tremendous antibacterial efficiency [
34,
35]. The intrinsic chemical and physical properties of AgNPs and AuNPs, such as their nanoscale size, dispersion, stability, and low propensity to aggregate, increase the effectiveness of their activity [
36]. These nanoparticles are more effective than silver and gold ions in terms of antipathogenic activity [
37]. Biosynthesized silver and gold nanoparticles have an unconventional antimicrobial effect against multiple drug resistant (MDR) microbes [
38]. Due to their physicochemical properties and intrinsic bactericidal effect, these nanoparticles are the most used antimicrobial agents and are applicable for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in modern antimicrobial applications [
39]. The mechanism of their antibacterial activity occurs by the interaction between the nanoparticles and the bacterial cell membrane in which the nanoparticle directly penetrates the cell, which leads to dysfunction in the normal metabolism and cellular functions of the bacteria and leads to structural damage and cell death [
40].
The intrinsic antibacterial effectiveness of AgNPs and AuNPs also helps when they are incorporated in wound and burn dressings. Nanoparticles are used in the pharmaceutical design of materials such as coatings for medical devices, antibacterial clothes, and burn ointments that are primarily resistant to mutation. Numerous investigations have shown that the stability of nanoparticles significantly affects their toxicity. Different capping agents, such as PEG (polyethylene glycol) or PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), are used to preserve nanoparticle stability [
41]. The physicochemical characteristics of the nanoparticles, such as shape, size, concentration, and colloidal state, sustain their antibacterial activity. The combination of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles with natural or synthetic polymers produces a synergistic effect, helps to eliminate or reduce microbial contamination and colonization [
42].
Silver cations, which are responsible for disrupting the physiological activity of bacteria and leading to their death, which mainly occurs due to their cation binding to the thiol groups of the bacterial proteins [
43]. These nanoparticles attach to the cell and penetrate to the cell barrier and release intracellular metallic silver ion, which leads to impairments in cellular respiration and permeability [
44,
45]. These nanomaterials exert their antibacterial effects through disruption and destabilization of extracellular polymeric substances within the biofilm matrix or interference with bacterial signalling molecules [
46].
Table 1.
Biomedical applications of silver and gold NPs synthesized from fungal strains.
Table 1.
Biomedical applications of silver and gold NPs synthesized from fungal strains.
Species |
Microorganism |
Mechanism |
Nanoparticle |
Size (nm) |
Characterization |
Applications |
Ref |
Verticillium sp. |
Fungi |
Intracellular |
Silver |
40-50 |
UV-VIS spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM-EDX, and TEM-SAED |
wound healing activity, cytotoxic properties against human keratinocyte |
[47] |
Fusarium oxysporum |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver alloy |
8-14 |
TEM |
Anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anticancer, anti-fungal, anti-parasite, antibacterial |
[48] |
Aspergillus fumigatus |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver |
5-25 |
FTIR, SEM, EDX, DLS, UV-Vis Spectroscopy |
Drug delivery |
[49] |
Aspergillus flavus |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver |
12.5± 5.1 |
UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, SEM-EDX, and XRD |
Antibacterial & anticandidal activity |
[50] |
Aspergillus flavus |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver |
12.5± 5.1 |
UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, SEM-EDX, and XRD |
Antibacterial & anticandidal activity |
[51] |
Trichoderma viride |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver |
0.1–10.0 |
UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDX |
anticancer and immunostimulatory |
[52] |
Aspergillus flavus |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver |
<35 |
UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Zeta potential, Zeta sizer, FT-IR, and XRD |
antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, E. cloacae, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and Shigella sp. |
[53] |
Fusarium oxysporum |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Silver |
30–36 |
UV–vis, SEM, XRD, FTIR |
against multidrug-resistant bacteria, and the development of antimicrobial textile finishes. |
[54] |
Fusarium oxysporum |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Gold |
22-30 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, and TEM |
antibacterial activity against MDR, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. cereus, and MRSA |
[55] |
Fusarium oxisporum |
Fungi |
Extracellular |
Gold |
8-12 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TEM |
Antibacterial |
[56] |
Neurospora crassa |
Fungi |
Intra/extracellular |
Gold |
32.0 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Biomedical |
[57] |
Aspergillus sydowii |
Fungi |
Intra/extracellular |
Gold |
8.7–15.6 |
UV–vis, TEM, lattice fringes in high resolution, SAED, and EDXA |
Biomedical applications |
[58] |
Antioxidant activity
The term oxidative stress refers to a phenomenon that occurs when an excess of oxidants, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) or nitrogen species (RNS), or organic compounds containing sulfur produce alkyl sulfinyl radicals (RS
.), disrupt the equilibrium between the cellular antioxidative defence system and oxidants [
59]. For instance, transition metal ions in their lower oxidation states do not exist as oxidant species by themselves but can operate as prooxidants by causing the oxidation of other substances to produce RNS or ROS. Naturally, the presence of oxidants also results in oxidative changes in biological systems on a molecular level, which causes damage and, ultimately, speeds up cellular death [
60].
Using the stable radical DPPH, the ability of AgNPs and vitamin C to scavenge free radicals was evaluated. One millilitre of silver nanoparticles at concentrations of 10, 20, and 100 mg/ml was combined with 1 ml of freshly prepared DPPH solution in methanol [
61], and the results showed 24.28% antioxidant activity; in another study, in the concentration range of 160-960 mg/ml, the percent DPPH inhibition by the AgNPs was 24-78%, and in the concentration range of 20-120 mg/ml, the percent ABTS inhibition was 22-96% [
62].
In the gold nanoparticle study, different doses of gold nanoparticles (10 mg/ml-60 mg/ml) were added to 1 ml of 0.1 mM DPPH in methanol. When an antioxidant combines with DPPH in solution, the violet solution turns into an inert liquid, which shows that the antioxidant has successfully counteracted the free radicals. The results of this assay are determined by measuring the absorbance spectrophotometrically [
63]. It has dose-dependent antioxidant activity with an IC
50 value of 165.0 g/ml; the percent inhibition increased along with the nanoparticle concentration. An inhibition rate of 35-96% was predicted for green-synthesized gold nanoparticles in the concentration range of 80-480 mg/ml, and the DPPH IC
50 value was 256 mg/ml [
64]. An antioxidant at a concentration of 10 mg/ml provided the best antioxidant activity, and as the concentration increased, the activity declined [
65].
The scavenging activities of gold nanoparticles greatly outperformed those demonstrated by their precursor salts and increased in a dose-dependent manner. The lowest evaluated concentration of biosynthesized gold nanoparticles had a percent scavenging activity of 15.85±0.49; however, when the concentration was increased to 500 g/ml, the scavenging ability improved to 60±1.82 [
66]. In another study, the protective capping of gold nanoparticles with different amino acid residues and surface-bound proteins appeared to be the primary contributor to the improved free radical scavenging activity, as 233.75 g/ml was the determined IC
50 value [
67].
Anticancer activity
The abnormal development of cells and tissues and disease-related death are both caused primarily by cancer. Cancer is still treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, which frequently kill or manipulate healthy cells [
68]. The advent of nanotechnology has accelerated the design of drugs and the development of cancer imaging. In a CO
2 incubator, HepG-2 and A559 cells were exposed to various concentrations of silver nanoparticles (1-100 mg/ml), and the cells were then cultured for 24 hr with 5% CO
2. The lowest number of nanoparticles that inhibited these cancer cell lines was 1 g, whereas 100 and 50 g were found to have the highest inhibitory concentration [
69]. Silver nanoparticle therapies against liver cancer appear to be more effective than those against lung cancer. In Hep G2 and A549 cells, the amounts of nanoparticles needed to cause 50% cell death were determined to be 50 g and 100 g, respectively [
70]. When the toxicity of silver nanoparticles was examined in the Vero cell line and the Hep2 cell line, their respective cytotoxic doses were 86 g and 107 g. However, it is not fully understood how nanoparticle inhibitory agents work to suppress cancer cell lines [
71].
Metabolic activity can be slowed down by silver nanoparticles that can enter cell membranes via ion channels. Protein aggregation is caused by the partial unfolding of proteins due to the interaction between the active silver nanoparticles and functional groups on intracellular proteins, enzymes, and nitrogen bases in DNA [
72]. By inhibiting the functions of many signalling proteins and the apoptotic signalling pathway, silver nanoparticles have the potential to be anticancer agents [
73]. The silver nanoparticle-mediated reduction in the percent viability of a cancer cell line was based on the doses administered. HCT-116, PC-3, MCF-7, A-549, and Hep-G2 cells were the most susceptible to the toxicity of different concentrations of the tested AgNPs generated from microbes, whereas CACO, HEP-2 and HELA cells were the most resistant after 24 hr of exposure [
74]. With over 80% inhibition of MCF-7 cells, silver nanoparticles at a very low concentration demonstrated extremely significant activity. The IC
50 value of these silver nanoparticles was less than 10 g/ml, and at greater concentrations (10-100 g/ml), no discernible change in cancer cell suppression was observed [
75]. The HCT-116 and Hep-G2 cell lines were the most vulnerable to the toxicity of the AgNPs, whereas Caco2 cells were the most resistant [
76].
Upon increasing the dosage of biogenic AgNPs compared to the untreated control, the substantial anticancer activity and cell viability of HepG2 cells were both considerably reduced. Additionally, it was shown that various silver nanoparticle concentrations had no toxic impact on healthy human renal cell lines but may specifically kill malignant cells [
77]. By triggering apoptosis and lowering DNA synthesis in cancer cells, AgNPs greatly suppressed the growth of human liver cancer Hep-G2 cells. It has also been demonstrated to inhibit angiogenesis, which is critical during the development of tumours [
78]. To date, however, there has not been enough research on the mechanism of toxicity caused by AgNPs and how they affect normal human cell lines. The functional groups of intracellular proteins were coated on silver nanoparticles and may have a role in their cytotoxicity and the destruction of malignant cells [
79]. The AgNP concentration is positively correlated with their toxicity to Hep-G2 cells. When silver nanoparticles come into direct contact with Hep-G2 cells, an increase in cytotoxicity, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the induction of apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage result, and enhance cellular oxidative stress to kill malignant cells [
80]. The control cells had a normal appearance and were adhered to the surface; in contrast, the cells exposed to silver nanoparticle solution shrank and lost their ability to adhere to the surface while maintaining their normal form. The silver nanoparticles and their associated capping group may have caused the cell shape to become altered and induced cytotoxicity by stimulating the necrosis process after their entry into cells [
81].
Gold nanoparticles are perfect for biological applications due to their unique physicochemical features [
82]. AuNPs decrease harm to healthy cells and reduce the possibility of adverse consequences. As a new drug for cancer treatment, AuNPs exhibit aggregation and size-dependent lethal action against many types of cancer cells. It is also influenced by the nanoparticle dosage [
83]. However, a description of the mechanism of action is still preliminary. Several researchers have noted that AuNPs are internalized by cells; nevertheless, the interactions between AuNPs and cells vary in different ways [
84]. Most crucial to a cell’s ability to internalize gold nanoparticles are their surface characteristics. The gold nanoparticles and cells having opposing charges is what causes the nanoparticles to be taken up and internalized [
85]. Gold nanoparticles are positively charged, whereas lipids in cancerous and normal cell membranes, particularly phosphate groups, are negatively charged [
86]. Gold nanoparticles can also enter cells by endocytosis. According to studies in which very small gold nanoparticles were endocytosed and aggregated inside HeLa cells [
87].
When HeLa cells were treated with biologically produced gold nanoparticles, comparable outcomes were observed. It was discovered that apoptosis was caused by activation of the caspase cascade, which includes caspases 3, 8, and 9 and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase [
88]. In A549 cells, caspase-mediated apoptosis was also detected by the increase in the activities of caspase 9 and caspase 3/7 and a substantial drop in the level of ATP, as well as significant increases in the protein concentrations of p53 and Bax. When the concentration of the generated AuNPs was between 2 and 400 mg/ml, the vitality of HeLa cells, breast cells, and normal cells was between 98 and 67%, 97 to 58% and 98 to 60%, respectively [
89]. HeLa cells, breast cells, and normal cells all had a high percent viability when in the presence of a low concentration of gold nanoparticles, but as the nanoparticle concentration rose, the percent cell viability fell [
90]. As a positive control, the widely used anticancer medication mitomycin C (400 mg/ml) was utilized, which resulted in 17, 19, and 19% viability of HeLa cells, breast cells, and normal cells, respectively [
91].
Normal fibroblasts showed less of a reduction in viability after treatment with gold nanoparticles, indicating that the gold nanoparticles had a less harmful effect on normal cells. HeLa cells demonstrated 67% cell viability after treatment with 400 mg/ml gold nanoparticles, whereas breast cancer cells demonstrated 58% viability and normal cells demonstrated 60% viability [
92]. The morphological properties of cancer cells change or are altered when treated with various concentrations of gold nanoparticles [
93]. Breast cancer cells treated with silver nanoparticles displayed morphological alterations, including cell clumping, cell rupture, suppression of cell proliferation, and loss of membrane stability. [
94]. Additionally, nanoparticles cause apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms, including the production of ROS, activation of the caspase-3 cascade, alterations in the expression of apoptotic proteins, and cell cycle arrest, which reduces membrane blebbing, cell growth, nuclear fragmentation, and chromatin condensation [
95]. By downregulating Bcl-2 and activating caspase-9 and caspase-3/7, gold nanoparticles induced caspase-mediated death in A549 cells. Gold nanoparticles upregulated the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 while downregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in PANC-1 cells [
96]. The cytotoxic impact of metal nanoparticles is dose- and time-dependent and relies on the type of cell, shape of the nanoparticle, capping agents, and nanoparticle size [
97].
Table 2.
Biomedical applications of silver and gold NPs synthesized from various bacterial strains.
Table 2.
Biomedical applications of silver and gold NPs synthesized from various bacterial strains.
Species |
Microorganism |
Mechanism |
Nanoparticle |
Size (nm) |
Characterization |
Applications |
Ref |
Bacillus licheniformis |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
10-30 |
FTIR, XRD |
antimicrobial activity, against human breast adenocarcinoma cells |
[98] |
Morganella sp. |
Bacteria |
Intra/extracellular |
Silver |
10-50 |
UV–vis spectrophotometer TEM, SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XRD |
antibacterial activity |
[99] |
Sphingobium sp.MAH 11T
|
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
7–22 |
SAED and XRD |
antimicrobial agent against E. coli and S. aureus
|
[100] |
Brevibacterium casei |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
42–92 |
UV-Vis, DLS, and TEM |
anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic agents, bioimaging, and biosensing |
[101] |
Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
30–70 |
TEM, XRD, and FT-IR |
Anti-cancer against thyroid cancer cells |
[102] |
Bacillus subtilis |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
3-20 |
UV–Vis spectroscopy, TEM, and FT-IR |
anti-microbial |
[103] |
Enterobacter aerogenes |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
47.22 – 105.0 |
UV–vis, SEM, XRD, FTIR |
antimicrobial activity against Multidrug resistance, treat many oral cavity diseases |
[104] |
Vibrio sp. |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
32.67–107.18 |
UV–vis, SEM, XRD, FTIR, DLS, AFM, zeta potential, FESEM |
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus |
[105] |
Pseudoduganella |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Silver |
8-24 |
TEM, SAED, XRD, FTIR |
antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant |
[106] |
Rhodococcus sp. |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Gold |
30-120 |
AFM. DLS, SEM, EDX |
antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus Escherichia coli bacteria. |
[107] |
Actinobacteria |
Bacteria (R. erythropolis,R. ruber cells) |
Extracellular |
Gold |
30–120, 40–200, respectively |
AFM, DLS, SEM, EDS |
Antimicrobial |
[108] |
Brevibacterium casei |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Gold |
10-50 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TEM |
Antibacterial |
[109] |
Ureibacillus thermosphaericus |
Bacteria |
Intra/extracellular |
Gold |
50-70 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, SEM and TEM |
Biomedical, sensor, catalysis, diagnostic and pharmaceutical applications. |
[110] |
Shewanella oneidensis |
Bacteria |
Intra/extracellular |
Gold |
12.0 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy, antimicrobial agent, biosensors, and imaging. |
[111] |
Pseudomonas fluorescens |
Bacteria |
Intra/extracellular |
Gold |
50-70 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Biomedical applications |
[112] |
Geobacillus sp. |
Bacteria |
Intracellular |
Gold |
10-20 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Immune response regulation |
[113] |
Ureibacillus thermosphaericus |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Gold |
50-70 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, Targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy, biosensors, and imaging. |
[114] |
Shewanella oneidensis |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Gold |
12.0 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Highly performance transistors, oscillators, in catalysis, biosensors, drug delivery, and as therapeutic agents |
[115] |
Paracoccus haeundaensisBC74171
|
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Gold |
20.93 ± 3.46 |
UV–vis, SEM and TEM |
Antioxidant, antiproliferation activity on cell lines |
[116] |
Marinobacter Pelagius |
Bacteria |
Intra/extracellular |
Gold |
10.0 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, Targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy, biosensors, and imaging. |
[117] |
Geobacillus sp. |
Bacteria |
Extracellular |
Gold |
10-20 |
UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, AFM, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM |
Anticancer |
[118] |