Bio-functional Mn₂O₃-carboxymethyl cellulose-L-arginine hybrid nanomaterials for targeting Candida albicans and oral cancer

Abstract

The hybrid manganese oxide (Mn2O3)-carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-L-arginine (LA) hybrid nanomaterials (HNMs) were synthesized via a one-pot method. This technique reduces reaction time, simplifies the synthesis process, and enhances scalability, making it suitable for biomedical applications. Structural, optical, and biological studies were characterized the synthesized Mn2O3 and Mn2O3-CMC-LA HNMs. The Mn2O3-CMC-LA HNMs demonstrated significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and anticancer effects against oral cancer cells. Biocompatibility was confirmed using an in vivo zebrafish embryos model. These findings highlight the potential of Mn2O3-CMC-LA HNMs for biomedical application in fungal infection treatment and oral cancer diagnostics. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.