| Abstrakt: |
Cyanobacteria, a group of oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes, are emerging as promising biofactories for the eco-benign and sustainable production of metal oxide nanoparticles. These blue-green algae are particularly grabbing attention for nanoparticle biosynthesis owing to their potential to produce unique metabolites that can successfully reduce and cap nanoparticles. The current research explores the use of an organic biomass extract of indigenous Nostoc sp. SI-SN for the biofabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). Their successful synthesis was confirmed with UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses with a 370-nm absorption band and a crystal size of 18.47 nm, showing a quasi-spherical to hexagonal morphology due to capping and stabilization by polyphenolic compounds. The ZnO-NPs showed antibacterial potential against clinical pathogens, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 10.06 to 48.5 µg/ml. They also demonstrated anti-exopolysaccharide, anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum sensing activity up to 86, 100, and 88%, respectively, at a sub-MIC value of 32 µg/ml after 24 h. They also possessed potent antioxidant potential, with an EC50 value of 39.51 µg/ml. No significant genotoxic effect was recorded against plasmid DNA at or below the concentration of 25 µg/ml after 4 h. Furthermore, seed germination, seedling parameters, and chlorophyll content were significantly enhanced with ZnO-NPs at concentrations of 10 and 15 µg/ml in corn and wheat, respectively. Thus, the organic biomass extract of Nostoc sp. SI-SN could be used as a safe, sustainable, and green alternative for the production of multifunctional ZnO-NPs, not only in the biomedical field but also as nano-fertilizers in agricultural applications for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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