University of Allahabad, PO Box 2026, Kuchery PO, Allahabad-211002, India
| During artificial culture of some lichens fungi (mycobiont) in synthetic medium for bioactive metabolite synthesis, the Usnea longissima lichen (ascomycetes fungi) found to be synthesized bioactive nanoparticle (usnic acid) in specified medium under additional conditions. The size of the nanoparticle of almost uniforms in size, with a diameter of around 50-200 nanometer across. Such a narrow size distribution is characteristic of microbially synthesized nanoparticle. There is an ever-growing need to develop cleaner, non-toxic and environmentally friendly procedures for synthesizing the bioactive nanomolecules. So the research turned to biological systems for inspiration. This is first ever report of microbially synthesis of bioactive nanoparticle from lichen biomass (mycobiont) through in vitro culture. We were used Bio nanoemulsion technology for in vitro bioactivity testing of formulated bioactive nanoemulsion from lichen metabolites. Detail in vitro analysis of bioactive nanoemulsion was carried out against human pathogenic fungi, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum audouinii, M. canis, M. gypseum, M. nanum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. tonsurance, T. violaceum, causing superficial fungal infection in humans and animals. Nanoemulsion was found to be extremely safe and effective for controlling fungal infections (dermatophytoses) during preliminary in vivo investigation in humans. Thus, our study will definitely provide an effective natural nanomedicine (bio-nanoantifungal) active against microbial infections; in near future after successful clinical trial. So, in this way we can exploit the lichen biomass (mycobionts) as nanofactories for the production of raw material for nanomedicines (nanoantifungal). |
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