Vol. 25, No. 3 (2026), Bio26844 https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/Bio26844

Effect of dextrose concentration on melanin-mediated immobilization of CuO nanoparticles by Cladosporium sp.

 

Authors

M. Contla-Ubaldo, M. García-Rivero, N. Velasco-Alvarez, T. Volke-Sepúlveda

Abstract

The increasing use of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) in industry and their improper environmental release have raised concerns regarding soil toxicity. Various microorganisms, particularly dark septate endophytes (DSE) fungi, possess specialized mechanisms to tolerate metallic pollutants, including melanin-mediated immobilization and antioxidant defense systems. This study aimed to determine the effect of dextrose concentration on melanin production and evaluate its relationship with tolerance and the antioxidant response of the DSE fungus Cladosporium sp. UAM12 exposed to CuO-NPs (~50 nm). Using a central composite design (CCD), the effects of CuO-NP and dextrose concentration on biomass production, melanin synthesis, and copper sorption were analyzed. Melanin synthesis was optimized at 60 g L-1 dextrose and 160 mg L-1 CuO-NPs. High dextrose levels increased biomass production but reduced fungal tolerance to CuO-NPs. After 14 days, CuO-NPs did not significantly affect the biomass yield (YXS), but delayed dextrose consumption between 2 and 12 days. DOPA-melanin production showed a significant positive correlation with copper sorption, with approximately 80% of the total copper in biomass being sequestered in the cell wall. Increased activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidases contributed to mitigating CuO-NP-induced oxidative stress. These findings contribute to understanding some biochemical strategies of Cladosporium sp. UAM12 to resist the toxicity of CuO-NPs, highlighting its potential for use in bioremediation processes in matrices contaminated with metallic NPs.

Keywords

dark septate endophytic fungi, copper sorption, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense.

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