Biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Sargassum tenerrimum as reductant and deciphering its antibiofilm role against cariogenic Candida albicans

The present study aimed to biosynthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) using marine macroalgae Sargassum tenerrimum (ST) and ascertain its ability to impede biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide production and induce protein leakage in dental caries-forming Candida albicans. Characterization of ST-TiO2NPs by UV-Vis spectra recorded a sharp peak at 365 nm. FT-IR results showed active functional groups involved in stabilizing the ST-TiO2NPs. XRD results confirmed the nano-crystalline nature with a mean grain size of 65.8 nm. FE-SEM results revealed that ST-TiO2NPs were spherical and square-shaped, and EDX affirmed titanium. Zeta potential analysis affirmed the stability of the ST-TiO2 nanoparticles. TiO2NPs efficiently impeded biofilm formation (32 %-97 %) by C. albicans in a dose-dependent manner. Antibiofilm assay by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) study showed that at 150 mu g/ml, the ST-TiO2NPs strongly disrupted the biofilm architecture of C. albicans. This was further substantiated by a notable reduction in exopolysaccharide and a rise in protein leakage with the increase in concentration (50-150 mu g/ml) of ST-TiO2NPs and time interval (12 h-60 h). This is the first study emphasizing that S. tenerrimum-mediated TiO2NPs strongly deterred and distorted C. albicans biofilms and further suggested that it could be effectively utilized as nano-antibiotics by coating the surface of dental implants to mitigate biofilm formation by oral pathogens.