Background and objective: Nanotechnology is a cumbersome field used in industrial, medical and environmental applications. Abundant information regarding the genotoxicity of gold nanoparticles is available, but limited information is available about the genotoxicity of enzymes and bioconjugates of gold nanoparticles from microbial sources. The present investigation reveals the genotoxicity of bioconjugate of tyrosinase and gold nanoparticles from Streptomyces sp.
Materials and methods: Tyrosinase and gold nanoparticles were isolated from Streptomyces tuirus DBZ39 and employed for the development of bioconjugates by the flocculation assay method. Methyl thiazole (MTT) assay, transmission electron microscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy were used for the investigation.
Results: Bioconjugate showed a significant genotoxic effect at a concentration of 18 μL and at least 10 μL. Bioconjugate of tyrosinase and gold nanoparticles by Streptomyces tuirus DBZ39 revealed a more expressed genotoxic effect than nanoparticles alone. The efficacy of gold nanoparticles was expected to improve the bonding of tyrosine due to their catalytic properties.
Conclusion: This innovative concept of the application of Tyr-AuNps bioconjugate can be used for the development of powerful weapons in medicinal fields. The introduction of bioconjugates of enzymes and nanoparticles in the field of drug design and cancer imaging will be a fundamental breakthrough in medicine.
Keywords: Streptomyces turius; bioconjugate; flocculation assay; genotoxicity; gold nanoparticles; trypan blue viability test; tyrosinase.