Usnea antarctica (James Ross Island, Antarctica) and usnea subfloridana (Uludag, Turkey) Incorporated hybrid nanoflowers with their intrinsic catalytic and antimicrobial activities

Abstract

Herein, we used lichen extracts, for the first time, in formation of organic-inorganic nanoflowers and we utilized them as novel nanobiocatalyst and antimicrobial agents. Two lichen species, Usnea Antarctica (U. Antarctica) and Usnea subfloridana (U. subfloridana) were collected from James Ross Island (Artarctica Peninsula, Antarctica) and from Uludag National park (Bursa, Turkey), respectively and both species were separately extracted in methanol and water. In terms of nanoflower synthesis, the extracts were used as organic components and copper (II) ions (Cu2+) acted as inorganic components for formation of U. antarctica and U. subfloridana based hybrid nanoflowers (hNFs). The peroxidase mimic catalytic and antibacterial activities of the hNFs were systematically examined towards model substrate and bacteria strains, respectively via Fenton reaction mechanism. We demonstrated how the types of lichens and their extracts prepared in methanol and water influence morphologies, catalytic and antibacterial activities of the hNFs. We found that no 2 hNFs formed from U. subfloridana extract prepared in water exhibited highly enhanced catalytic activity owing to its uniform, more compact and porous flower-like structures with high surface-to-volume ratio. We expect that lichens extracts based hNFs with great catalytic activities can be promisingly alternative against enzymes and used in various scientific and technical fields.