Exploring the impact of mycogenic selenium nanoparticles on production of exopolysaccharides from arid zone bacteria

Modulating bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) with nanoparticles is an emerging application of nanotechnology due to the enhancement of soil fertility, encouragement of nutrient uptake, and plant growth in agriculture. This study highlights the seamless integration of nanotechnology with EPS, the fungus, Serendipita indica strain is used here to reduce selenium ions and forms selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs). Se NPs has been characterized by visual observation, UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, SEM-EDX, XRD, DLS and Zeta potential. Production of EPS was monitored in the presence of Se NPs. Extracted EPS was characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDX, HPLC, and NMR. Results exhibit the successful formation of spherical, crystalline Se NPs with size ranging between 20-80 nm with 92.24% selenium. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to identify and optimise the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Bacillus subtilis that was isolated from arid zone agricultural soil. The central composite rotatable design (CCRD) exhibited the highest yield of EPS 11.332 g/l. EPS was then characterized by FTIR, HPLC, NMR, and SEM which revealed the presence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups and flakes-like structure of EPS. Hence, the present work will pave the way for the application of nanotechnology for increasing EPS production and will also offer new dimensions for further research.