Therapeutic potential of lipopeptide biosurfactant-fabricated copper oxide nanoparticles: Mechanistic insight into their biocompatibility using zebra fish

Mangrove pneumatophores as biocatalysts for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles and their potential applications against biofilm formation and hepatic carcinoma

The current study demonstrates the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the pneumatophores of Acanthus ilicifolius (AiP-AgNPs), which is cost-effective and biocompatible. A. ilicifolius possesses remarkable features to endure the harshest conditions for its entire life cycle and generates secondary metabolites for its sustainability in hostile mangrove ecosystems. The presence of a prominent UV-visible absorption band at 420 nm supported the distinct color change inference for the synthesized AiP-AgNPs. The size of the synthesized AiP-AgNPs was determined to be ∼15 nm through field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The presence of secondary metabolites such as 2-bromo-1,1-dichloroethene, hemin and N-(sulfanylacetyl)-l-seryl-l-argininamide was indicated by prominent peaks in liquid chromatography, suggesting their probable roles in the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AiP-AgNPs demonstrated a distinct zone of inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.33 mm), Vibrio cholerae (9.83 mm), and Bacillus subtilis (12 mm). They also exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in DPPH, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. The anticancer potential of the synthesized AiP-AgNPs against HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells determined through MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry revealed their dose-dependent cytotoxicity with the occurrence of the sub-G0 phase (25.6%). Subsequent analysis using fluorescence microscopy, DNA damage, comet assay, and migration assay indicated that AiP-AgNPs hold significant potential and the ability to serve as a therapeutic candidate to pave the way for further in-depth investigations for pre-clinical and clinical research purposes.

Sources of Lipopeptides and Their Applications in Food and Human Health: A Review

Lipopeptides (LPs) are widely sourced surface-active natural products with a wide range of functions and low toxicity, high potency, and good biodegradability. In this paper, we summarize, for the first time, the plant, animal, microbial, and synthetic sources of LPs. We also introduce the applications of LPs in food and human health, including (1) LPs can inhibit the growth of food microorganisms during production and preservation. They can also be added to food packaging materials for preservation and freshness during transportation, and can be used as additives to improve the taste of food. (2) LPs can provide amino acids and promote protein synthesis and cellular repair. Due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, they exhibit good anticancer effects and biological activities. This review summarizes, for the first time, the sources of LPs and their applications in food and human health, laying the foundation for the development and application of LPs.

Copper nanoparticles biosynthesis by Priestia megaterium and its application as antibacterial and antitumor agents

The growth of material science and technology places high importance on creating better processes for synthesizing copper nanoparticles. Thus, an easy, ecological, and benign process for producing copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) has been developed using Priestia sp. bacteria utilizing a variety of low-cost agro-industrial wastes and byproducts. The biosynthesis of CuNPs was conducted using glucose medium and copper ions salt solution, then it was replaced by utilizing low-cost agro-industrial wastes. UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), Attenuated Total Reflectance and Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and zeta potential were used to characterize the biosynthesized CuNPs. The cytotoxicity of CuNPs using Vero -CCL-81 cell lines, and antibacterial and antitumor properties using human colon epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2-HTB-37 cell lines were assessed. The UV-visible and DLS studies revealed CuNPs formation, with a maximum concentration of 6.19 ppm after 48 h, as indicated by a 0.58 Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) within 450 nm and 57.73 nm particle size. The 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that Priestia sp. isolate is closely related to Priestia megaterium and has been deposited in the NCBI GenBank with accession number AMD 2024. The biosynthesis with various agro-industrial wastes indicated blackstrap sugar cane molasses being the most effective for reducing CuNPs size to 3.12 nm owing to various reducing and stabilizing active compounds. The CuNPs were free of contaminants, with a sphere-shaped structure and a cytotoxicity assessment with an IC50 of 367.27 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity exhibited by the most susceptible bacteria were Bacillus cereus ATCC 11788 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 with inhibition zones of 26.0 mm and 28.0 mm, respectively. The antitumor effect showed an IC50 dose of 175.36 μg/mL. Based on the findings, the current work sought to lower product costs and provide a practical solution to the environmental contamination issues brought on by the buildup of agricultural wastes. In addition, the obtained CuNPs could be applied in many fields such as pharmaceuticals, water purification, and agricultural applications as future aspects.

An In Vitro and In Silico Study of Luteolin-Loaded Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Enhancing Bioactivity and Efficacy for Advanced Therapeutic Applications Against Cariogenic Microorganisms

Introduction Recent studies have explored alternative methods to enhance caries prevention and treatment. Luteolin compound has been noted for its antimicrobial properties, while zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) are recognized for their potent antibacterial effects. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial efficacy of luteolin-loaded Zn oxide NPs (Luteo-ZnONPs) against cariogenic bacteria. By combining the biofilm-targeting capabilities of luteolin with the antimicrobial properties of Zn NPs, we aim to explore a novel approach for dental caries management. Methods Luteo-ZnONPs were synthesized and characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, confirming their successful formation and stability. Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), demonstrating effectiveness against cariogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus mutans in different concentrations. The agar well plate method was employed to analyze the growth inhibitory effect of Luteo-ZnONPs (50 and 100 µg/ml, respectively). Streptomycin (100 µg/ml) was used as a positive control. The results (zone of inhibition (ZOI) in millimeter, mm) were represented as mean ± standard deviation. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to detect the significance (p < 0.05) between the groups. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against MG63 cells, and doxorubicin was used as a positive control. Wilcoxon rank test was used for the statistical method. Gyrase B was downloaded from Protein Data Bank (PDB id: 6F86) and docked against luteolin using Autodock software (version 4.2). The binding score was presented as kcal/mol in table format. Results Characterization results showed that UV-vis spectroscopy revealed characteristic peaks, indicating the successful synthesis and stability of Luteo-ZnONPs. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups from luteolin compound interacting with the Zn NPs. It showed effective inhibition against E. coli on 50 µg/ml as 12.45 mm as ZOI and increased with concentration (100 µg/ml as 17.13 mm). It showed minimal ZOI on E. faecalis (8.12, 12.21 on 50 and 100µg/ml, respectively). The cytotoxicity of Luteo-ZnONPs was lesser than doxorubicin on MG63 cells with statistical high significance (p < 0.0014). These results showed that Luteo-ZnONPs had effective antimicrobial nature against Enterococcus family. Thus, gyrase B from E. coli was selected for the molecular docking analysis. The catalytic tunnel in gyrase B (E. coli, PDB: 6F86), influenced by Luteo-ZnONPs, indicated potential for novel, broad-spectrum antimicrobials via selective inhibition at conserved active sites.  Conclusion The agar well plate and MIC confirmed that Luteo-ZnONPs exhibited potent antibacterial activity, especially at higher concentrations compared to streptomycin. One- way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in antibacterial efficacy between treatments, validating its superior performance. Its strong interaction on in silico level showed the targeted mechanism of action. Luteo-ZnONPs showed lesser toxicity than doxorubicin on MG63 cells. These findings underscore the potential of its broad spectrum antimicrobial nature paving the way for its development into innovative, nontoxic therapeutic solutions.