Optimization of the Synthesis of Fungus-Mediated Bi-Metallic Ag-Cu Nanoparticles

Fuad Ameen

doi:10.3390/app12031384

Abstract

Bi-metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have appeared to be more efficient as antimicrobials than mono-metallic NPs. The fungus Aspergillus terreus-mediated synthesis of bi-metallic Ag-Cu NPs was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to reach the maximum yield of NPs. The optimal conditions were validated using ANOVA. The optimal conditions were 1.5 mM total metal (Ag + Cu) concentration, 1.25 mg fungal biomass, 350 W microwave power, and 15 min reaction time. The structure and shape of the synthesized NPs (mostly 20–30 nm) were characterized using several analytical tools. The biological activities of the synthesized NPs were assessed by studying their antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activity in different NP concentrations. A dose-dependent response was observed in each test. Bi-metallic Ag-Cu NPs inhibited three clinically relevant human pathogens: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus were inhibited less. The DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities of the NPs were high, reaching 90% scavenging. Ag-Cu NPs could be studied as antimicrobials in different applications. The optimization procedure using statistical analyses was successful in improving the yield of nanoparticles.

Highlights

Sci. 2022, 12, 1384. https://doi.org/Nanotechnological solutions are increasingly developed to be used as antimicrobial agents in biomedicine
Three-dimensional response surfaces and two-dimensional contour plots were presented describe the theoptimization: optimization:the the diagrams illustrate effects of factors two factors sented to to describe diagrams illustrate the the effects of two on NPon sented to time
The optimal conditions of four process parameters doubled the yield of nanoparticles when compared to starting conditions

Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnological solutions are increasingly developed to be used as antimicrobial agents in biomedicine. Physical and chemical techniques to produce nanoparticles (NPs) have largely been inserted with eco-friendly biological techniques [1,2]. Nanotechnology offers eco-friendly solutions for biomedicine but for agriculture and the remediation of polluted environments [3,4,5]. The use of fungi in the synthesis of NPs has gained much attention recently. Fungi have been found to be efficient in reducing metal salts to NPs by producing proteins and catalysts that enable rapid synthesis [6,7]. The fungi-mediated synthesis of NPs offers a technology that can be scaled up to industrial needs

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