Biogenic Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Bacterial Strains Isolated from an Antarctic Consortium Associated to a Psychrophilic Marine Ciliate: Characterization and Potential Application as Antimicrobial Agents.

Maria Sindhura John,Rita Giovannetti,Cristina Miceli,Sandra Pucciarelli,Alessio Mancini,Kesava Priyan Ramasamy,Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth,Marco Zannotti

doi:10.3390/md19050263

Abstract

In the last decade, metal nanoparticles (NPs) have gained significant interest in the field of biotechnology due to their unique physiochemical properties and potential uses in a wide range of applications. Metal NP synthesis using microorganisms has emerged as an eco-friendly, clean, and viable strategy alternative to chemical and physical approaches. Herein, an original and efficient route for the microbial synthesis of copper NPs using bacterial strains newly isolated from an Antarctic consortium is described. UV-visible spectra of the NPs showed a maximum absorbance in the range of 380–385 nm. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that these NPs are all monodispersed, spherical in nature, and well segregated without any agglomeration and with an average size of 30 nm. X-ray powder diffraction showed a polycrystalline nature and face centered cubic lattice and revealed characteristic diffraction peaks indicating the formation of CuONPs. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of capping proteins on the NP surface that act as stabilizers. All CuONPs manifested antimicrobial activity against various types of Gram-negative; Gram-positive bacteria; and fungi pathogen microorganisms including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The cost-effective and eco-friendly biosynthesis of these CuONPs make them particularly attractive in several application from nanotechnology to biomedical science.

Highlights

With the beginning of the 21st century, nanobiotechnology entered the scientific spotlight as a discipline for innovative materials and applications
We report the biosynthesis of cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) at low temperatures from bacterial strains isolated from a consortium associated with the Antarctic ciliate Euplotes focardii [16]
We further evaluated the CuONP antibacterial activity by estimating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values using the plate microdilution method [38]

Summary

Introduction

With the beginning of the 21st century, nanobiotechnology entered the scientific spotlight as a discipline for innovative materials and applications. NPs) are becoming the fundamental building blocks of nanotechnology. Their small dimensions and high surface area to volume enable them to exhibit novel chemical and physical properties. NPs can be used in applications that are different from those of their bulk materials, including but not limited to electrical resistivity and conductivity, chemical reactivity, and diverse and versatile biological processes [1,2]. Most research work in this field focused on silver and gold NPs. special interest has been taken in other metal

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