UV assisted nano-selenium synthesis using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli waste

A growing number of microorganisms are employed in industry nowadays, leading to the extensive generation of microbial waste. Nevertheless, the waste recycling investigation has not yet encompassed the synthesis of nanoparticles. Economically viable nano-selenium (nano-Se) requires additional cost reduction. This study produced cost-effective nano-Se utilizing microbial waste. This reaction was conducted under UV irradiation due to the low activity of microbial waste. After 90 minutes of UV irradiation, the yield of nano-Se generated from the death-phase eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae ( S. cerevisiae ) waste was 7.46 times more than that of nano-Se produced in darkness. The resultant nano-Se is amorphous, and the nano-Se generated by UV irradiation demostrated a larger size than that produced in darkness. Moreover, unlike the nano-Se generated in darkness or incubators, the nano-Se produced under UV irradiation significantly inhibited the multiplication of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, demonstrating its enhanced efficacy. The UV-assisted synthesis of nano-Se was also seen during the death phase of the prokaryote Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) waste. After 5 hours of UV irradiation, the yield of nano-Se produced by E. coli is 10.80 times more than that produced in darkness. The findings strongly indicate that industrial microbial waste, whether eukaryote or prokaryote, can be employed for the economical production of nano-Se or other nanoparticles. • Ultraviolet irradiation is applied to eukaryotic and prokaryotic waste nano-selenium synthesis. • Ultraviolet irradiation promotes the synthesis of nano-selenium with larger particle sizes. • Nano-selenium synthesized under ultraviolet exhibits superior anti-cancer function.