Endophytic actinomycetes Streptomyces spp mediated biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles as a promising tool for biotechnological applications

In this study, two endophytic actinomycetes isolates Oc-5 and Acv-11, were isolated from healthy leaves of medicinal plant Oxalis corniculata L. These isolates were identified as Streptomyces zaomyceticus Oc-5 and Streptomyces pseudogriseolus Acv-11 using 16S rRNA gene sequence. Biomass extract of these strains were used as a greener attempt for synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). The synthesized NPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Green synthesized NPs showed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band at 400nm, crystalline nature, spherical-shaped with an average size of 78nm and 80.0nm for CuO-NPs synthesized using strain Oc-5 and Acv-11, respectively. The bioactivities of CuO-NPs were evaluated. Results revealed that CuO-NPs exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial cells (Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria, unicellular and multicellular fungi). In addition, it showed antimicrobial potential against phyto-pathogenic fungal strains Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium ultimum, Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata. We further explored the in vitro antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity for biosynthesized CuO-NPs. The results revealed that, scavenging and total antioxidant activity for NPs synthesized using Streptomyces pseudogriseolus Acv-11 was better than those synthesized by Streptomyces zaomyceticus Oc-5. Also, the morphological changes and cell viability for Vero and Caco-2 cell line due to NPs treatments were assessed using MTT assay method. Furthermore, Larvicidal efficacy against Musca domestica and Culex pipiens was evaluated. The results obtained in this study clearly showed that biosynthesized CuO-NPs exhibited effective bioactivity and, therefore, provide a base for the development of versatile biotechnological applications soon.