Biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles using endophytic fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum (RUV07) extract: characterization and in vitro antiproliferative effect of A549 cells.

In this groundbreaking research, we utilized the fungal extract of Cladosporium sphaerospermum -RVU07 as a powerful reducing agent to create bioactive gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). The comprehensive material characterization of the Au-NPs was conducted using methods including XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-vis, and DLS analysis. Notably, the successful formation of Au-NPs was confirmed by a striking color change of the precursor from pale yellow to vibrant violet. This transformation underscores the pivotal role of fungal bioactive molecules, which impart distinctive physicochemical and biological properties to the Au-NPs. The extraction of these compounds significantly influenced both the particle size and surface morphology, enhancing their effectiveness. We investigated the antiproliferative effect of the bioactive Au-NPs against lung cancer cells specifically A549. Our findings revealed that these nanoparticles and bioactive molecules effectively induce ROS production and drive nuclear damage-mediated cell death. With their nanoscale dimensions, the Au-NPs rapidly penetrate the atomic region of A549 cancer cells, facilitating substantial cellular dysfunction. Our nuclear damage assays confirmed that the Au-NPs lead to pronounced nuclear fragmentation and shrinkage in A549 cells following treatment. Additionally, we evaluated the biocompatibility of the Au-NPs against PBMC cells. The biosafety assay results convincingly showed that the bioactive molecules on the Au-NPs' surface significantly mitigate their toxic effects on normal cells. This research highlights the immense potential of mycosynthesized bioactive Au-NPs as innovative pharmaceuticals for a wide array of cancer therapies and biomedical applications, heralding a new era in targeted treatment solutions.