Semiconductor NbSe2 nanoparticles synthesized at various temperatures: a novel promising antifungal candidate with in vitro wound healing potential

Abstract

This study reports the synthesis of niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) nanoparticles at room temperature (RT), 70 °C, and 100 °C via a sonochemical method, followed by an assessment of their structural, morphological, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and wound healing properties. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed changes in the crystallinity, size, and morphology of the nanoparticles as a function of synthesis temperature. The sample synthesized at 70 °C exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against HaCaT cells, while those synthesized at RT and 100 °C showed moderate and low cytotoxicity, respectively. Antimicrobial properties varied: the RT nanoparticles showed the highest inhibition against Aspergillus niger, while the 100 °C nanoparticles demonstrated some inhibition against Candida albicans. Wound healing assays revealed that the RT synthesized nanoparticles promoted the highest wound closure (94.78%) at a concentration of 0.5 μg mL⁻¹. These results highlight the influence of synthesis temperature on the biological properties of NbSe₂ nanoparticles, suggesting their potential for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine, with the RT sample showing the most promising outcomes.