Biosynthesis of nano-curcumin/nano-selenium composite and their potentialities as bactericides against fish-borne pathogens

Abstract

Abstract Fish-borne zoonotic bacteria can endanger the health of human and aquatic organisms; the nanobiotechnology applications can help. Curcumin nanoparticles (NC) were synthesized using gum Arabic (GA) and the resulted NC was innovatively employed for mediating selenium nanoparticles (NSe), then each compound/composite was evaluated as candidates for inhibiting fish-borne pathogens (Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus). The nanomaterials’ characterizations revealed the successfulness of their synthesis and conjugation. Promisingly, the NSe had particles’ diameter in the range of 2.4–15.8 nm and mean diameter of 6.1 nm, whereas the NC/NSe particles’ diameter was in the range of 15.4–92.3 nm and their mean diameter was 50.7 nm. The antibacterial activity of biosynthesized NC, NSe, and NC/NSe was validated quantitatively/qualitatively toward all examined bacteria; their powers were sorted as NC < NSe < NC/NSe. A. hydrophila was the most sensitive strain and S. aureus was the most resistant. The scan image of A. hydrophila cells exposed to NC/NSe indicated the high capability of nanocomposite to distort bacterial cells and lead them to death within 10 h of exposure. The biosynthesized NC, NSe, and NC/NSe are substantially advocated as natural biocides for controlling fish-borne zoonotic pathogens.