Biomedical application of greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles using the filtrate of Trichoderma viride: Anticancer and immunomodulatory potentials.

Background: Green route biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Trichoderma viride (T. viride) filtrate (TVFSNPs) can serve as an alternative to antibiotics and as an effective drug delivery to combat cancer and act as an immune-stimulator.

Objectives: To biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (SNPs) with T. viride filtrate using green route and to characterize and determine the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory potential of nanoparticles.

Material and methods: Trichoderma viride filtrate was used for biosynthesizing SNPs. The biosynthesized SNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The cytotoxic properties against Hep‑2C and rotavirus and the immunomodulatory potential were evaluated.

Results: Trichoderma viride filtrate was able to bio-reduce AgNO3 to SNPs. The surface plasmon resonance peak was at 450 nm. The presence of aldehydes, amino acids, ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, hydroxyl groups, and phenol among others indicates the capping and stabilization of proteins in the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were spherical with a size of 0.1-10.0 nm. The EDX analysis revealed a strong signal of silver (Ag). The TVFSNPs had a cytotoxic effect on Hep2C and rotavirus in a dose-dependent manner and increased the production of immunoglobulin (Ig) A (IgA) and IgM.

Conclusions: Trichoderma viride filtrate contained some biochemicals that can bio-reduce silver nitrate (AgNO3) for SNPs biosynthesis. The anticancer and immunostimulatory potential justifies the biomedical application and biotechnological relevance of T. viride.