Engineered bimetallic Ag-Se nanozyme with multifunctional biomedical potential

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative ESBL-producers including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are becoming a critical obstacle in the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. Biogenesis of nanoparticles with plant phytochemicals is a strong alternative antimicrobial treatment. Tylophora indica , a medicinal plant native to South Asia and widely used in traditional medicine, has been reported to exhibit anticancer and antimicrobial activities. This study focuses on green synthesis of silver-selenium nanoparticles called bimetallic Ag-Se nanozyme (TiAg-SeNZ) with T. indica aqueous extract. This valorized approach not only utilizes plant materials effectively, but also contributes to development of sustainable nanomaterial. Synthesized TiAg-SeNZ was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, DLS and zeta potential analyses. FESEM coupled with EDAX analyses of TiAg-SeNZ revealed a porous, quasi-spherical aggregated morphology with a silver-rich, AgCl-dominant bimetallic structure, with selenium incorporated in amorphous form within the phytochemical-rich organic matrix. Nanotoxicity assessment in Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryo demonstrated biocompatibility at ≤ 25 µg/ml. TiAg-SeNZ showed multipotent ability including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and strong antimicrobial activities in pathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae with MIC and MBC values ranging between 3 and 25 µg/ml and 6–50 µg/ml, respectively. Anti-biofilm activity reached up to approximately 85% at MIC concentration. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of T. indica derived TiAg-SeNZ for topical applications against ESBL-producing bacteria associated with diabetic wound infection. However, further biocompatibility and wound-healing studies are required to validate its therapeutic potential. These findings demonstrate the potential of sustainably engineered plant-based bimetallic Ag-Se nanozyme as functional nanomaterials for advanced biomedical applications. The study paves the way for the development of eco-conscious topical therapeutics for diabetic wound infections, aligning with global efforts in the development of sustainable healthcare materials. Not applicable