Microbial Nanotechnology 2.0

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 5481

Special Issue Editor

Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt
Interests: agricultural nanotechnology; rapid diagnostic methods; breeding resistant varieties; pathogen genomes; eco-friendly nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the continuation of our previous special issue "Microbial Nanotechnology".

This issue offers insight into the use of microorganisms including bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, algae, and diatoms, all of which contribute to the microbial production of nanomaterials. The inherent variety of microbiological systems necessitates more standardization of processes in order to create nanomaterials with increasingly uniform and repeatable chemical–physical properties. It will cover the state of knowledge, microbial synthesis mechanisms, and problems in microbial-mediated biosynthesis. A comprehensive understanding of biosynthetic pathways and the possibilities of genetic engineering are fueling research into breakthrough production of microbial-based nanosynthesis for future scaling up and possible commercial usage of these exciting “microbial cell nanofactories”. The creation of sensoristic devices, therapeutic/diagnostic applications, and the control of numerous microbial illnesses in plants, animals, and people are all possible applications for nano-based materials. Recent developments in microbial nanostructures have focused on the treatment of food-borne infections, plant pathogens, as nutrients, and biological uses. Microorganisms are regarded not just as biofactories for nanomaterial creation, but also as agents for removing hazardous metals from the environment. The sources of microbially generated nanoparticles’ exposure and ecotoxicity are also examined. In this issue, we will focus on research that addresses a variety of important features of nanomaterials: (1) the kind of microbial green synthesis, (2) biosynthetic methods and routes, (3) characterization, and (4) applications, as well as the key data gathered in (5) regulations, (6) nanotoxicity, and (7) challenges.

This Special Issue on “Microbial Nanotechnology” seeks to offer contemporary research on any element of the development of microbial-based nanosynthesis for future scaling up and prospective commercial exploitation, as well as their applications in the biomedical, environmental, and agri-food sectors.

Some of its focal points include but are not limited to the following:

  • Microbial biosurfactants
  • Microbially synthesized nanoparticles
  • Algae-mediated nanoparticles
  • Actinobacteria-mediated nanoparticles
  • Actinomycetes-mediated nanoparticles
  • Bacteria-mediated nanoparticles
  • Fungi-mediated nanoparticles
  • Lichens-mediated nanoparticles
  • Yeast-mediated nanoparticles
  • Sensoristic devices
  • Nanotheranostics
  • Nano-antimicrobial
  • Microbial nanocomposites
  • Antimicrobial mechanisms
  • Microbicidal effects
  • Antibiofilm agents
  • Nano-based drug delivery
  • Nanotoxicity

Prof. Dr. Kamel Ahmed Abd-Elsalam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 5833 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Degradation, Anticancer, and Antibacterial Studies of Lysinibacillus sphaericus Biosynthesized Hybrid Metal/Semiconductor Nanocomposites
by Kannan Badri Narayanan, Rakesh Bhaskar, Yong Joo Seok and Sung Soo Han
Microorganisms 2023, 11(7), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071810 - 14 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1238
Abstract
The biological synthesis of nanocomposites has become cost-effective and environmentally friendly and can achieve sustainability with high efficiency. Recently, the biological synthesis of semiconductor and metal-doped semiconductor nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiency, anticancer, and antibacterial properties has attracted considerable attention. To this [...] Read more.
The biological synthesis of nanocomposites has become cost-effective and environmentally friendly and can achieve sustainability with high efficiency. Recently, the biological synthesis of semiconductor and metal-doped semiconductor nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiency, anticancer, and antibacterial properties has attracted considerable attention. To this end, for the first time, we biosynthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver/ZnO nanocomposites (Ag/ZnO NCs) as semiconductor and metal-doped semiconductor nanocomposites, respectively, using the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of the bacterium Lysinibacillus sphaericus. The biosynthesized ZnO and Ag/ZnO NCs were characterized by various techniques, such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation potential of these semiconductor NPs and metal-semiconductor NCs was evaluated against thiazine dye, methylene blue (MB) degradation, under simulated solar irradiation. Ag/ZnO showed 90.4 ± 0.46% photocatalytic degradation of MB, compared to 38.18 ± 0.15% by ZnO in 120 min. The cytotoxicity of ZnO and Ag/ZnO on human cervical HeLa cancer cells was determined using an MTT assay. Both nanomaterials exhibited cytotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner on HeLa cells. The antibacterial activity was also determined against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus). Compared to ZnO, Ag/ZnO NCs showed higher antibacterial activity. Hence, the biosynthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles could be a promising strategy for developing hybrid metal/semiconductor nanomaterials for different biomedical and environmental applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Nanotechnology 2.0)
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17 pages, 6573 KiB  
Article
Biosynthesis, Characterization, and Antifungal Activity of Novel Trimetallic Copper Oxide–Selenium–Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Some Mucorales Fungi
by Amr H. Hashem, Abdulaziz A. Al-Askar, Józef Haponiuk, Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam and Mohamed S. Hasanin
Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061380 - 24 May 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1470
Abstract
Metal nanoparticles are assumed to be a new generation of biologically active materials. The integrations between more than one metal are synergetic multifunctional features. In the current study, trimetallic copper–selenium–zinc oxide nanoparticles (Tri-CSZ NPs) were successfully mycosynthesized using Aspergillus niger through an ecofriendly [...] Read more.
Metal nanoparticles are assumed to be a new generation of biologically active materials. The integrations between more than one metal are synergetic multifunctional features. In the current study, trimetallic copper–selenium–zinc oxide nanoparticles (Tri-CSZ NPs) were successfully mycosynthesized using Aspergillus niger through an ecofriendly method for the first time. The biosynthesis of the particles was characterized using physiochemical and topographical analysis. The physiochemical analysis included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which affirmed that the biosynthesis of Tri-CSZ NPs relies on the functional groups of fungal filtrates. Additionally, the UV–visible and X-ray diffraction patterns were proposed for the formation of Tri-CSZ NPs; moreover, topography analysis confirmed that the micromorphology of the nanoparticles were similar to a stick, with ends having a tetragonal pyramid shape, and with an average nanosize of about 26.3 ± 5.4 nm. Cytotoxicity results reveled that the Tri-CSZ NPs have no cytotoxicity on the human normal cell line Wi 38 at low concentrations, where the IC50 was 521 µg/mL. Furthermore, the antifungal activity of the Tri-CSZ NPs was evaluated. The antifungal results revealed that the Tri-CSZ NPs have promising antifungal activity against Mucor racemosus, Rhizopus microsporus, Lichtheimia corymbifera, and Syncephalastrum racemosum, where the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 1.95, 7.81, 62.5, and 3.9 µg/mL, and the minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were 250, 62.5, 125, and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, Tri-CSZ NPs were successfully mycosynthesized using A. niger, which have a promising antifungal activity against fungi causing mucormycosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Nanotechnology 2.0)
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Review

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24 pages, 2372 KiB  
Review
Entomopathogenic Fungi: An Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Sustainable Nanoparticles and Their Nanopesticide Properties
by Ritu Bihal, Jameel M. Al-Khayri, A. Najitha Banu, Natasha Kudesia, Farah K. Ahmed, Rudradeb Sarkar, Akshit Arora and Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam
Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061617 - 19 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2320
Abstract
The agricultural industry could undergo significant changes due to the revolutionary potential of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has a broad range of possible applications and advantages, including insect pest management using treatments based on nanoparticle insecticides. Conventional techniques, such as integrated pest management, are inadequate, [...] Read more.
The agricultural industry could undergo significant changes due to the revolutionary potential of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has a broad range of possible applications and advantages, including insect pest management using treatments based on nanoparticle insecticides. Conventional techniques, such as integrated pest management, are inadequate, and using chemical pesticides has negative consequences. As a result, nanotechnology would provide ecologically beneficial and effective alternatives for insect pest control. Considering the remarkable traits they exhibit, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are recognized as potential prospects in agriculture. Due to their efficiency and great biocompatibility, the utilization of biologically synthesized nanosilver in insect pest control has significantly increased nowadays. Silver nanoparticles have been produced using a wide range of microbes and plants, which is considered an environmentally friendly method. However, among all, entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have the most potential to be used in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with a variety of properties. Therefore, in this review, different ways to get rid of agricultural pests have been discussed, with a focus on the importance and growing popularity of biosynthesized nanosilver, especially silver nanoparticles made from fungi that kill insects. Finally, the review highlights the need for further studies so that the efficiency of bio-nanosilver could be tested for field application and the exact mode of action of silver nanoparticles against pests can be elucidated, which will eventually be a boon to the agricultural industry for putting a check on pest populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Nanotechnology 2.0)
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