Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized with Spruce Bark Extract—A Molecular Aggregate with Antifungal Activity against Candida Species

Due to their high content of biomolecules, combined with silver’s well known antimicrobial potential, silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using spruce bark (AgNP SBEs) demonstrate antibacterial and antioxidant activity, making them a versatile option for developing new antimicrobial agents that might be used for medical treatment or as adjuvants for the classical agents. This study aims to analyze if silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) mediated by spruce bark extract (SBE) and silver salts (AgNP SBE Acetate, AgNP SBE Nitrate) presents antifungal activity against five different Candida spp., synergistic activity with fluconazole, and if they interact with some virulence factors of C. albicans. AgNP SBEs presented MICs (minimum inhibitory concentrations) for all the five tested Candida spp. AgNP SBEs inhibited the growth of C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and C. guilliermondii, exerted synergistic activity with fluconazole for C. parapsilosis and C. guilliermondii, and inhibited biofilm production for C. albicans, C. auris, and C. guilliermondii. MICs of AgNP SBE Acetate significantly inhibited the production of germ tubes of C. albicans. The expression of C. albicans SAP2 gene was down-regulated by the short-time treatment with MICs of AgNP SBE Acetate, while ALS3 and HSP70 genes were up-regulated by the AgNPs MICs. These results emphasize the potential of using the AgNP SBEs as treatments/adjuvants options, not only against the redundant C. albicans but also for the non-albicans Candida species (which are not as frequently involved in human pathologies, but, sometimes, can be more aggressive).

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In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized with Beech Bark Extract

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10102153 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 2153

Author(s):

Anca Delia Mare ◽

Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea ◽

Adrian Man ◽

Mihai Mareș ◽

Felicia Toma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Germ Tube ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Bark Extract ◽

Synergistic Activity ◽

Tube Production ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Biofilm Production

Biosynthesis is a green method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This study aimed to assess the antifungal activity of two silver nanoparticle solutions, synthesized using beech bark extract (BBE) and acetate and nitrate silver salts (AgNP Acetate BBE and AgNP Nitrate BBE), their influence on biofilm production, their potential synergistic effects with fluconazole, on different Candida spp., and their influence on virulence factors of C. albicans (germ tube production, gene expression for ALS3, SAP2, HSP70). Both the AgNP BBEs presented different minimum inhibitory concentrations for all the studied Candida spp., but biofilm production was inhibited only for C. albicans and C. guilliermondii. The growth rates of all the studied Candida spp. were inhibited in the presence of both AgNP BBEs, except for C. auris. Synergistic activity was observed for C. parapsilosis and C. guilliermondii, for different combinations of fluconazole with both the AgNP BBEs. The germ tube production of C. albicans was slightly inhibited by the AgNP BBEs. Only AgNP Acetate BBE was able to down-regulate the expression of SAP2. Overall, we can conclude that, even if more studies are necessary, AgNPs synthesized with beech bark extract might be an interesting alternative to classic antifungal treatments.

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Evaluation of Antifungal Activity by Mixed Oxide Metallic Nanocomposite against Candida spp.

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9050773 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 773

Author(s):

Ayodeji Precious Ayanwale ◽

Brenda Lizbeth Estrada-Capetillo ◽

Simón Yobanny Reyes-López

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Promising Result ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Human Mononuclear Cells ◽

Viability Study ◽

High Doses

High doses of antimicrobial agents are a huge threat due to the increasing number of pathogenic organisms that are becoming resistant to antimicrobial agents. This resistance has led to a search for alternatives. Therefore, this study presents the synthesis and characterization of ZrO2-Ag2O nanoparticles (NPs) by sol-gel. The NPs were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-visible (UV-vis), Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The NPs were later evaluated for their antifungal effects against Candidaalbicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis, using disc diffusion and microdilution methods, followed by the viability study. The DLS showed sizes for ZrO2 76 nm, Ag2O 50 nm, and ZrO2-Ag2O samples between 14 and 42 nm. UV-vis shows an absorption peak at 300 nm for ZrO2 and a broadband for Ag2O NPs. Raman spectra were consistent with factor group analysis predictions. SEM showed spherically shaped NPs. The antifungal activity result suggested that ZrO2-Ag2O NPs were effective against Candida spp. From the viability study, there was no significance difference in viability as a function of time and concentration on human mononuclear cells. This promising result can contribute toward the development of alternative therapies to treat fungal diseases in humans.

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Biodirected Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Honey Solutions and Evaluation of Their Antifungal Activity against Pathogenic Candida Spp.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22147715 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (14) ◽

pp. 7715

Author(s):

Grzegorz Czernel ◽

Dominika Bloch ◽

Arkadiusz Matwijczuk ◽

Jolanta Cieśla ◽

Monika Kędzierska-Matysek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Disc Diffusion ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Antifungal Effect ◽

Synthesis Of Nanoparticles ◽

Honey Solution ◽

Diffusion Assay

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous honey solutions with a concentration of 2%, 10%, and 20%—AgNPs-H2, AgNPs-H10, and AgNPs-H20. The reaction was conducted at 35 °C and 70 °C. Additionally, nanoparticles obtained with the citrate method (AgNPs-C), while amphotericin B (AmB) and fluconazole were used as controls. The presence and physicochemical properties of AgNPs was affirmed by analyzing the sample with ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The 20% honey solution caused an inhibition of the synthesis of nanoparticles at 35 °C. The antifungal activity of the AgNPs was evaluated using opportunistic human fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. The antifungal effect was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc diffusion assay. The highest activity in the MIC tests was observed in the AgNPs-H2 variant. AgNPs-H10 and AgNPs-H20 showed no activity or even stimulated fungal growth. The results of the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion susceptibility test for C. parapsilosis strains indicated stronger antifungal activity of AgNPs-H than fluconazole. The study demonstrated that the antifungal activity of AgNPs is closely related to the concentration of honey used for the synthesis thereof.

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Unnatural amino acid-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antifungal activity against Candida species

Journal of Nanoparticle Research ◽

10.1007/s11051-014-2523-y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kannan Badri Narayanan ◽

Hyun Ho Park

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Candida Species ◽

Unnatural Amino Acid

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Antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Candida spp.

Biomaterials ◽

10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.07.065 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 30 (31) ◽

pp. 6333-6340 ◽

Cited By ~ 530

Author(s):

Aleš Panáček ◽

Milan Kolář ◽

Renata Večeřová ◽

Robert Prucek ◽

Jana Soukupová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Candida Spp

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Synergistic Activity of New Diclofenac and Essential Oils Combinations against Different Candida spp.

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10060688 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 688

Author(s):

Antonio Rosato ◽

Elisabetta Altini ◽

Sabina Sblano ◽

Lara Salvagno ◽

Filippo Maggi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Diclofenac Sodium ◽

Synergistic Activity ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Pelargonium Graveolens ◽

Mentha X Piperita ◽

Inflammatory Drugs ◽

Antimicrobial And Antifungal Activity

According to recent studies, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) have shown a good antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Their association with essential oils (EOs) could be useful for the treatment of infections caused by Candida spp. The aim of this studyis to evaluate the synergistic antifungal activity of new combinations between Diclofenac Sodium Salt (DSS), a widely used NSAID, with EOs of Mentha x piperita, Pelargonium graveolens and Melaleuca alternifolia. The in-vitroantifungal activity was determined on different Candida strains. The determination of the chemical composition of EOs was carried out by gaschromatography-massspectrometry (GC-MS). Susceptibility testing of planktonic cells was performed by using the broth microdilution assay and checkerboard methods. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of DSS was in a range from 1.02 to 2.05 mg/mL reaching a MIC value of 0.05 mg/mL when combined with Pelargonium graveolens (FICI= 0.23–0.35) or Menthapiperita (FICI= 0.22–0.30) EOs. These preliminary results show thatthe combination of the EOs with DSS improves the antifungal activity on all the tested Candida strains.

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Biosynthesis, Characterization, and Antifungal Activity of the Silver Nanoparticles Against Pathogenic Candida species

BioNanoScience ◽

10.1007/s12668-015-0163-z ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 65-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Nafeesa Khatoon ◽

Abhijeet Mishra ◽

Hammad Alam ◽

Nikhat Manzoor ◽

Meryam Sardar

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Candida Species

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Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Candidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Citrobacter spp. MS5 Culture Supernatant

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom10060944 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 944

Author(s):

Aftab Hossain Mondal ◽

Dhananjay Yadav ◽

Asghar Ali ◽

Neelofar Khan ◽

Jun O Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Culture Supernatant ◽

Bacterial Isolate ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Candida Spp ◽

X Ray ◽

Vis Spectroscopy ◽

Biosynthesized Agnps

The present study described the extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using environmental bacterial isolate Citrobacter spp. MS5 culture supernatant. To our best knowledge, no previous study reported the biosynthesis of AgNPs using this bacterial isolate. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using different techniques like UV-Vis spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The analysis of UV-Vis spectra revealed absorption maxima at 415 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) indicated the formation of AgNPs and FTIR spectrum confirmed the participation of proteins molecule in AgNPs synthesis. XRD and EDX spectrum confirmed the metallic and crystalline nature of AgNPs. TEM and SEM showed spherical nanoparticles with a size range of 5–15 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed effective independent as well as enhanced combined antibacterial activity against extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Further, effective antifungal activity of AgNPs was observed towards pathogenic Candida spp. The present study provides evidence for eco-friendly biosynthesis of well-characterized AgNPs and their potential antibacterial as well as antifungal activity.

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