ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles via the Fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi: A Green Approach
 
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1
Department of Chemistry, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Ulica Cara Hadrijana 8/A, Osijek, Croatia
 
2
Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Ulica Cara Hadrijana 8/A, Osijek, Croatia
 
3
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
 
 
Submission date: 2025-12-26
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-04-08
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-04-21
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-09-21
 
 
Corresponding author
Zorana Katanić   

Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Ulica Cara Hadrijana 8/A, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using non-toxic and biodegradable chemicals represents a sustainable, eco-friendly approach that enables the synthesis of nanoparticles with enhanced stability and specific bioactive properties. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract of the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and an aqueous AgNO₃ solution is reported in this study. Ophiostoma novo-ulmi is a highly virulent ascomycete responsible for Dutch elm disease (DED), a destructive vascular wilt affecting elm trees (Ulmus spp.). It produces a diverse range of bioactive metabolites, enabling efficient reduction and stabilization of nanoparticles, while also representing a novel example of transforming a phytopathogenic organism into a valuable biotechnological resource. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of AgNPs mediated by the O. novo-ulmi extract, which acted as both the reducing and stabilizing agent, with a characteristic UV-Vis absorption maximum at ≈ 402 nm. FT-IR analysis identified key bioactive metabolites that are potentially responsible for bio-reductive activity. PXRD results revealed a crystallite size of ≈15 nm, calculated using the Scherrer equation, with a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. Evaluation of antibacterial properties by the broth microdilution method demonstrated inhibitory effects of the biosynthesized AgNPs against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with MIC values ranging from 0.01563 to 0.500 mg mL⁻¹. Overall, the findings highlight the high potential and effectiveness of O. novo-ulmi as a biological agent for fungal-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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