Characterization, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using marine endophytic fungus- Cladosporium cladosporioides

Abstract

• For the first time biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) achieved using endophytic fungus of Sargassum wightii . • Potential antimicrobial activity of AgNPs. • The AgNPs were characterized by UV–vis, FTIR, AFM FESEM, XRD and DLS analysis. Myconanotechnology is an upcoming field of research, which is generating new avenues and is finding applications in medicine too. Since marine flora such as marine endophytic fungi contain myriads of bioactive molecules, the scientific community is focusing attention on them for various studies. In the present work, we have studied the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Cladosporium cladosporioides and its antioxidant as well as antimicrobial activity. C. cladosporioides was isolated from brown algae, Sargassum wightii . Its identity was established by comparing its 18 s rDNA sequence (Gen Bank accession no- KT384175). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized by UV–vis, FTIR, AFM FESEM, XRD and DLS analysis. AgNPs were tested for free radical scavenging activity and antimicrobial activity. Their particle sizes were within 100 nm. AgNPs showed significant antioxidant potential activity as also significant antimicrobial activity. An attempt was made to understand the mechanism of myco synthesis of AgNPs. The results showed the involvement of NADPH-dependent reductase in the formation of AgNPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using endophytic fungus isolated from S.wightii . Further, In vivo studies at the molecular level will help in the development of a novel broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent.