Multi-Biofunctional Properties of Phytofabricated Selenium Nanoparticles From Carica papaya Fruit Extract: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antimycotoxin, Anticancer, and Biocompatibility

• Published in: Frontiers in microbiology Vol. 12; p. 769891
• Main Authors: Vundela, Swetha Reddy, Kalagatur, Naveen Kumar, Nagaraj, Anusuya, Kadirvelu, Krishna, Chandranayaka, Siddaiah, Kondapalli, Kasturi, Hashem, Abeer, Abd Allah, Elsayed Fathi, Poda, Sudhakar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 17.02.2022
• Subjects: antimicrobial activity; antimycotoxin activity; Aspergillus ochraceus; Carica papaya; Microbiology; ochratoxin A; selenium nanoparticles; Aspergillus ochraceus; ochratoxin A; Penicillium verrucosum; Danio rerio; selenium nanoparticles; antimicrobial activity; Carica papaya; antimycotoxin activity
• ISSN: 1664-302X; 1664-302X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.769891

The present study focused on phytofabrication of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) from extract and exploration of their multi-biofunctional features. Total phenolics and flavonoids of fruit extract were determined as 23.30 ± 1.88 mg gallic acid equivalents and 19.21 ± 0.44 mg quercetin equivalents per gram, respectively, which suggested that fruit extract could be a competitive reducing and stabilizing agent during phytofabrication of nanoparticles. UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy showed the formation of SeNPs from sodium selenite, which could be related to the reducing and stabilizing activities of fruit extract. The SeNPs were found to be stable with a Zeta potential of -32 mV. The average hydrodynamic size of SeNPs was found as 159 nm by dynamic light scattering. The SeNPs showed a broader XRD pattern with no sharp Bragg's peaks and found to be amorphous. SEM showed that SeNPs were spherical in shape and EDX pattern showed that SeNPs were made up of Se (71.81%), C (11.41%), and O (14.88%). The HR-TEM picture showed that SeNPs were spherical in morphology and have a size range of 101-137 nm. The SeNPs exhibited potent antioxidant activity and their EC values (effective concentration required to inhibit 50% of radicals) were 45.65 ± 2.01 and 43.06 ± 3.80 μg/ml in DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The antimicrobial action of SeNPs was found as a broad spectrum and suppressed microbial pathogens in ascending order: fungi > Gram-positive bacteria > Gram-negative bacteria. The SeNPs have been demonstrated to reduce the growth and ochratoxin A (OTA) of mycotoxigenic and at 40 μg/ml in broth culture, which is noteworthy. The SeNPs reduced cancer cell proliferation (RAW 264.7, Caco-2, MCF-7, and IMR-32) more preferentially than normal cells (Vero), found to be highly biocompatible. Lower doses of SeNPs (up to 50 μg/ml) were shown to be less toxic and did not cause death in (zebrafish) embryos, implying that lower doses of SeNPs could be beneficial for biological purposes. The present study concluded that phytofabricated SeNPs have multiple biofunctional properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimycotoxin, and anticancer activities, as well as high biocompatibility.