Biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Sargassum tenerrimum as reductant and deciphering its antibiofilm role against cariogenic Candida albicans

The present study aimed to biosynthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) using marine macroalgae Sargassum tenerrimum (ST) and ascertain its ability to impede biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide production and induce protein leakage in dental caries-forming Candida albicans. Characterization of ST-TiO₂NPs by UV–Vis spectra recorded a sharp peak at 365 nm. FT-IR results showed active functional groups involved in stabilizing the ST-TiO₂NPs. XRD results confirmed the nano-crystalline nature with a mean grain size of 65.8 nm. FE-SEM results revealed that ST-TiO₂NPs were spherical and square-shaped, and EDX affirmed titanium. Zeta potential analysis affirmed the stability of the ST-TiO₂ nanoparticles. TiO₂NPs efficiently impeded biofilm formation (32 %–97 %) by C. albicans in a dose-dependent manner. Antibiofilm assay by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) study showed that at 150 μg/ml, the ST-TiO₂NPs strongly disrupted the biofilm architecture of C. albicans. This was further substantiated by a notable reduction in exopolysaccharide and a rise in protein leakage with the increase in concentration (50–150 μg/ml) of ST-TiO₂NPs and time interval (12 h–60 h). This is the first study emphasizing that S. tenerrimum-mediated TiO₂NPs strongly deterred and distorted C. albicans biofilms and further suggested that it could be effectively utilized as nano-antibiotics by coating the surface of dental implants to mitigate biofilm formation by oral pathogens.