Myco-macromolecular symbiosis: Chitosan-folate ZnO nanoplatforms from Trametes versicolor for dual-functional oncological and antibacterial therapy.

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and cancer necessitates the development of novel, targeted therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to develop a multifunctional nanoplatform combining antibacterial and anticancer properties through green synthesis and strategic surface functionalization. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were biosynthesized using Trametes versicolor extract as a reducing and capping agent, then surface-functionalized with chitosan (Cs) for enhanced biocompatibility and conjugated with folic acid (FA) for targeted delivery. The NPs were characterized using multiple analytical techniques and evaluated for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Cytotoxicity was assessed in cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and normal cells (MCF-10 A), followed by gene expression analysis of key oncogenic and apoptotic markers. Characterization confirmed the formation of crystalline, core-shell structures with successful ligand attachment. Cs-ZnO NPs demonstrated significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains compared to bare ZnO NPs. FA-Cs-ZnO NPs exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells while maintaining biocompatibility with normal cells. Gene expression analysis revealed down-regulation of cancer stemness genes (CD44, SOX2) and proliferation markers (mTOR, β-catenin), coupled with up-regulation of the apoptotic marker Caspase 3. This green-synthesized, dual-functional nanoplatform demonstrates promising potential for combined antibacterial and targeted anticancer therapy, warranting further in vivo evaluation for clinical translation.