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Nanoparticles

Sustainable Biomaterials from Mushroom Waste: A Breakthrough in Sustainability Research

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the University of Kebangsaan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of sustainability research. They have successfully developed a method to convert spent mushroom substrate (SMS) into high-value biomedical materials, such as cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the production of sustainable biomedical products, reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers successfully isolated CNFs from SMS through a chemo-mechanical process, which can be used as a biocompatible nanocarrier for AgNPs.
  • The AgNPs were synthesized and loaded onto ToCNFs using the water extract of SMS (WESMS) as a green reducing agent, resulting in a hybrid nanomaterial with enhanced antimicrobial efficacy.
  • The study demonstrated the antimicrobial efficacy of AgNP/ToCNF against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, with MIC90 values of 250 μg/mL against S. aureus and 125 μg/mL against P. aeruginosa and E. coli.
  • Free-state AgNPs showed lower MIC90 values, but both compounds demonstrated bactericidal activity against all three bacterial strains.
  • The study also found that CNFs derived from SMS lacked intrinsic antimicrobial activity, but their incorporation with AgNPs significantly enhanced antibacterial efficacy while reducing AgNPs-induced cytotoxicity in mammalian cells.
  • The results of this study underscore the potential of SMS-derived CNFs as biocompatible nanocarriers for AgNPs and other antibacterial agents, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to developing antimicrobial biomaterials.
  • The research has applications in wound healing, antimicrobial coatings, and medical nanocomposites.

Statistics:

  • The average diameter of the AgNPs was 34.04 nm.
  • The nanofiber width diameter range of the resulting hybrid nanomaterial was 273.5-318.5 nm.
  • The MIC90 values for free-state AgNPs against S. aureus was 62.5 μg/mL.
  • The cytotoxicity of AgNP/ToCNF was assessed using the LDH assay, revealing a concentration-dependent toxicity pattern.
  • The study used ATR-FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy to characterize the chemical structure of the isolated cellulose and the successful synthesis and AgNPs loading.

Sources:

  • Sustainable Production and Antibacterial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles On Cellulose Nanofibers From Mushroom Waste. RSC Advances, 2025;15(25):19726-19740.
  • University of Kebangsaan, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ctr Drug Delivery Technol & Vaccine Centric, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia.

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