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Biosynthesis and safety evaluation of ZnO nanoparticles

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Abstract

The secrets gleaned from nature have led to the development of biomimetic approaches for the growth of advanced nanomaterials. Biological methods for nanoparticle synthesis using microorganisms, enzymes, and plants or plant extracts have been suggested as possible ecofriendly alternatives to chemical and physical methods. Here, we report extracellular mycosynthesis of ZnO-NPs by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl (1912). On treating zinc sulfate solution with fungal culture filtrate, rapid reduction of ZnSO4 was observed leading to the formation of highly stable ZnO-NPs in the solution and up-to-date literature survey showed this was the first report of biosynthesis of ZnO-NPs using this fungus. The particles thereby obtained were characterized by different analytical techniques. EDX-spectrum revealed the presence of zinc and oxygen in the nanoparticles. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of a protein shell outside the nanoparticles which in turn also support their stabilization. DLS and TEM analysis of the ZnO-NPs indicated that they ranged in size from 45 to 150 nm with average size of 75 ± 5 nm. But potential negative impacts of nanomaterials are sometimes overlooked during the discovery phase of research. Therefore, in the present study, bio-safety of mycosynthesized ZnO-NPs were evaluated by using cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays in human lymphocyte cells, in vitro. Cytotoxicity studied as function of membrane integrity and mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity revealed significant (P < 0.05) toxicity at treatment concentration of 500 μg/ml and above. Additionally, DNA damaging potential was also studied using comet assay. The results revealed significant genotoxicity at the highest concentration (1,000 μg/ml).

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Abbreviations

FCF:

Fungal culture filtrate

DLS:

Dynamic light scattering

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

EDX:

Energy dispersive X-ray

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

ZnO:

Zinc oxide

ZnO-NPs:

Zinc oxide nanoparticles

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Acknowledgments

The author (Krishnendu Acharya) would like to thank Center for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Calcutta (Sanction no. Conv/043/Nano Pr. 2009) for financial support. Manosij Ghosh would like to thank CSIR, Govt of India (Sanction number: 09/028(0860)/2012-EMR-I).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, 700019, India

    Joy Sarkar & Krishnendu Acharya

  2. Cell Biology and Genetic Toxicology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, 700019, India

    Manosij Ghosh & Anita Mukherjee

  3. Department of Polymer Science and Technology, University College of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, 700009, India

    Dipankar Chattopadhyay

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  1. Joy Sarkar
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  2. Manosij Ghosh
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  3. Anita Mukherjee
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  4. Dipankar Chattopadhyay
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  5. Krishnendu Acharya
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Correspondence to Krishnendu Acharya.

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Sarkar, J., Ghosh, M., Mukherjee, A. et al. Biosynthesis and safety evaluation of ZnO nanoparticles. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 37, 165–171 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-013-0982-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-013-0982-7

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