title: Leveraging the Attributes ofMucor hiemalis-Derived Silver Nanoparticles for a Synergistic Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Platform.
abstract: Driven by the need to engineer robust surface coatings for medical devices to prevent infection and sepsis, incorporation of nanoparticles has surfaced as a promising avenue to enhance non-fouling efficacy. Microbial synthesis of such nanoscale metallic structures is of substantive interest as this can offer an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable route for further development. Here we present aMucor hiemalis-derived fungal route for synthesis of silver nanoparticles, which display significant antimicrobial properties when tested against six pathological bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas brassicacearum, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, andStaphylococcus aureus) and three pathological fungal strains (Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, andAspergillus flavus). These antimicrobial attributes were comparable to those of established antibiotics (streptomycin, tetracycline, kanamycin, and rifampicin) and fungicides (amphotericin B, fluconazole, and ketoconazole), respectively. Importantly, these nanoparticles show significant synergistic characteristics when combined with the antibiotics and fungicides to offer substantially greater resistance to microbial growth. The blend of antibacterial and antifungal properties, coupled with their intrinsic "green" and facile synthesis, makes these biogenic nanoparticles particularly attractive for future applications in nanomedicine ranging from topical ointments and bandages for wound healing to coated stents.
authors.affiliation: Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida India.
authors.forename: Nafe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Connecticut Children's Innovation Center, FarmingtonCT, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Health, FarmingtonCT, USA.
authors.forename: Rishikesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, BaltimoreMD, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, BaltimoreMD, USA.
authors.forename: Ishan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barman
authors.affiliation: Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, NoidaIndia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, BaltimoreMD, USA.
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prasad
keywords: Mucor hiemalis; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; green synthesis; silver nanoparticles