What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop an eco-friendly approach for preserving historical manuscripts against fungal deterioration.

June 8, 2026Open Access

An integration of bacterial probiotic extract and green nanoparticles as a safe approach for conservation of historical manuscript against fungal deterioration: an applied study

Key Points

To develop an eco-friendly approach for preserving historical manuscripts against fungal deterioration.
Assessed deterioration aspects of an 11th-century manuscript using multiple techniques including SEM and XRD.
Isolated and identified 13 fungal strains from the manuscript, focusing on their enzyme production.
Applied Lactobacillus plantarum extract and TiO₂-NPs to conserve the manuscript and evaluated results.
Significant reduction in fungal activity observed after treatment with 100 µg mL⁻¹ Lactobacillus plantarum extract (p<0.05).
Enhancement of the manuscript's aesthetic value was noted following integrated conservation techniques.
Fungal strains identified demonstrated high hydrolytic enzyme production, contributing to biodeterioration processes.

Abstract

Abstract This study focuses on integrations of an eco-friendly, cost effectiveness, and safe approach for conservation of historical manuscripts to avoid the risks from utilizing traditional conservation methods and synthetic fungicides, which pose dangerous effects on environment, human health, and materials of historical museums. Therefore, the deterioration aspects of an 11th-century historical manuscript, including its paper and leather binding, were assessed in relation to the influence of the corresponding fungal communities. Photographic documentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), color changes, and pH values in comparison to a control sample were used to examine the deterioration aspects. Dust, dirt, corrosion, stains, weakness, missing parts, decreasing paper crystal, changing cellulosic band wavenumbers, color change, and acidity were identified as the most degrading elements. Thirteen fungal strains were isolated from the historical manuscript and identified morphologically and molecularly as Aspergillus flavus (five isolates), A. chinensis (one isolate), Penicillium chrysogenum (one isolate), Cladosporium velox (one isolate), Paecilomyces variotii (two isolates), Paecilomyces brunneolus (one isolate), Curvularia tamilnaduensis (one isolate), and Curvularia geniculate (one isolate). These strains showed high activity for producing different hydrolytic enzymes involved in biodeterioration, including cellulase, amylase, gelatinase, and pectinase. The conservation of the historical manuscript against fungal deterioration was achieved using innovative and pioneering environmentally friendly biomaterials: Lactobacillus plantarum extract (100 µg mL⁻¹) followed by green-synthesized TiO₂-NPs (100 µg mL⁻¹). Other conservation techniques, such as cleaning, consolidation, completion of missed parts, and other necessary methods for the studied manuscript, were also applied and revealed the aesthetic value of the manuscript.

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