Anti-oxidant, anti-fungal and cytotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles synthesized using marine fungus Cladosporium halotolerans

This study is to implement an easy and greener method for the preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using fungal extract and investigate their antioxidant (DPPH), antifungal (Aspergillus niger) and cytotoxic effect against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by several analytical techniques, such as UV-Vis spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results of analyses using spectroscopy (UV and FTIR) and diffraction (XRD) were compared and discussed with available literature. Electron microscopic techniques, such as SEM and TEM, illustrated spherical AgNPs. The inhibition of free radical DPPH by AgNPs was significant. The cytotoxicity of AgNPs was dose-dependent, and therefore, an increase in cell death was obtained with increasing concentrations of AgNPs. The IC50 values were found to be 34.27 mu L/mL for the AgNPs and 17.69 mu L/mL for the standard drug, Cisplatin. According to the knowledge of the authors and published literature, this is the first-ever report on the synthesis of AgNPs using the fungus Cladosporium halotolerans and evaluation of their biological activities.

Automated summary

This study successfully prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using fungal extract and evaluated their biological activities. The results showed that AgNPs exhibited significant inhibition of DPPH free radicals and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.