Estimation of the antibacterial and anti-tumor impacts of soy milk and ecofriendly myco-manufactured zinc oxide nanomaterials

Authors: HELMY, EMAN - Al-Azhar University; AMIN, BASMA - Al-Azhar University; ALQHTANI, ABDULMOHSEN - King Saud University; Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony; YOSRI, MOHAMMED - Al-Azhar University

Submitted to: Polish Journal of Environmental Studies
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2023
Publication Date: 1/12/2024
Citation: Helmy, E.A., Amin, B.H., Alqhtani, A.H., Pokoo-Aikins, A., Yosri, M. 2024. Estimation of the antibacterial and anti-tumor impacts of soy milk and ecofriendly myco-manufactured zinc oxide nanomaterials. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. 33(3):2093-2102. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/174792.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/174792

Interpretive Summary: Soy milk (SM) is an alternative milk for individuals who are lactose intolerant. However, it has sensory qualities just like raw beans and can lead to bloating and other issues to its consumers. Nano technology (NT) was used to modify and enhance some of the properties of SM. This NT involved the use of fungi to create nanoparticles (NP). Fungi can reduce or breakdown metal ions into NP. This reduces some of the negative effects of making NP. In this study, zinc oxide (ZO) NP were used with soy milk to remove or reduce microbes and tumor cells. The results showed that ZO and SM had synergistic effects against some bacteria and tumor cells. ZO NPs are commonly used in food processing and are approved by FDA.

Technical Abstract: The necessity for the creation of safe, dependable, biocompatible, and efficient methods to make nanoparticles drives an increasing number of researchers to consider using biological systems as potential eco-friendly nanofactories. Fungi have an innate ability to reduce and oxidize metal ions into metal oxide nanoparticles, thus behaving as nanofactories. In the present study, Trichoderma harzianum was used to prepare ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPS). ZnO NPS showed a peak at 370 nm upon testing using UV spectrophotometer and percentages of zinc(72.0±0.2 %) and oxygen(28.0 ±0.3) upon analysis using Edx with an irregular shape, 16.5 nm size and characterized XRD pattern. Soymilk as well as the prepared ZnONPs were investigated either separately or in their mixture (1:1) for their antibacterial and anti-tumor effects. The mixture showed a promising antibacterial impact on Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC29212) and Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) which was confirmed using a transmission electron microscope. ZnONPs mixed with soymilk showed a promising anti-tumor action towards human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 through boosting apoptotic rate, which was detected by flow cytometry. The current report highlights the possibility of mixing eco-friendly biosynthesized nanoparticles with natural products to enhance their biomedical impact with minimal toxicity as possible innovative pharmaceutical applications.