Anti-Candidal Activity and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of Graphene Nanoplatelets Decorated with Zinc Oxide Nanorods

Candida albicans is the most common pathogenic fungus that is isolated in nosocomial infections in medically and immune-compromised patients. The ability of C. albicans to convert its form from yeast to hyphal morphology contributes to biofilm development that effectively shelters Candida against the action of antifungals molecules. In the last years, nanocomposites are the most promising solutions against drug-resistant microorganisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of graphene nanoplateles decorated with zinc oxide nanorods (ZNGs) against the human pathogen Candida albicans. We observed that ZNGs were able to induce a significant mortality in fungal cells, as well as to affect the main virulence factors of this fungus or rather the hyphal development and biofilm formation. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation in yeast cells resulted one of the mechanisms of ZNGs to induce mortality. Finally, the toxicity of this nanomaterial was tested also on human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Our data indicated that ZNGs resulted not toxic when their aggregation state decreased by adding glycerol as emulsifier to ZNGs suspensions or when HaCaT cells were grown on ZNGs-coated glasses. Overall, the results that were obtained indicated that ZNGs could be exploited as an antifungal nanomaterial with a high degree of biocompatibility on human cells.

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Epitaxial growth of the zinc oxide nanorods, their characterization and in vitro biocompatibility studies

Journal of Materials Science Materials in Medicine ◽

10.1007/s10856-011-4405-5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 22 (10) ◽

pp. 2301-2309 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ramya Gopikrishnan ◽

Kai Zhang ◽

Prabakaran Ravichandran ◽

Santhoshkumar Biradar ◽

Vani Ramesh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zinc Oxide ◽

Epitaxial Growth ◽

Zinc Oxide Nanorods ◽

In Vitro Biocompatibility ◽

Oxide Nanorods

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Sustained Nitric Oxide-Releasing Nanoparticles Induce Cell Death in Candida albicans Yeast and Hyphal Cells, Preventing Biofilm FormationIn Vitroand in a Rodent Central Venous Catheter Model

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.02659-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 2185-2194 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Mohammed S. Ahmadi ◽

Hiu Ham Lee ◽

David A. Sanchez ◽

Adam J. Friedman ◽

Moses T. Tar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽

Extracellular Polysaccharide ◽

Host Cells ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Central Venous ◽

Content Type ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACTCandida albicansis a leading nosocomial pathogen. Today, candidal biofilms are a significant cause of catheter infections, and such infections are becoming increasingly responsible for the failure of medical-implanted devices.C. albicansforms biofilms in which fungal cells are encased in an autoproduced extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Consequently, the enclosed fungi are protected from antimicrobial agents and host cells, providing a unique niche conducive to robust microbial growth and a harbor for recurring infections. Here we demonstrate that a recently developed platform comprised of nanoparticles that release therapeutic levels of nitric oxide (NO-np) inhibits candidal biofilm formation, destroys the extracellular polysaccharide matrices of mature fungal biofilms, and hinders biofilm development on surface biomaterials such as the lumen of catheters. We found NO-np to decrease both the metabolic activity of biofilms and the cell viability ofC. albicansin vitroandin vivo. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis found NO-np to induce apoptosis in biofilm yeast cellsin vitro. Moreover, NO-np behave synergistically when used in combination with established antifungal drug therapies. Here we propose NO-np as a novel treatment modality, especially in combination with standard antifungals, for the prevention and/or remediation of fungal biofilms on central venous catheters and other medical devices.

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Candida albicans Biofilm-Defective Mutants

Eukaryotic Cell ◽

10.1128/ec.4.8.1493-1502.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 4 (8) ◽

pp. 1493-1502 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Mathias L. Richard ◽

Clarissa J. Nobile ◽

Vincent M. Bruno ◽

Aaron P. Mitchell

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Early Phase ◽

Intermediate Phase ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Media Analysis ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Phase Arrest ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACT Biofilm formation plays a key role in the life cycles and subsistence of many microorganisms. For the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, biofilm development is arguably a virulence trait, because medical implants that serve as biofilm substrates are significant risk factors for infection. The development of C. albicans biofilms in vitro proceeds through an early phase, in which yeast cells populate a substrate, an intermediate phase, in which pseudohyphal and hyphal cell types are produced, and a maturation phase, in which continued cell growth is accompanied by accumulation of an extracellular matrix. Here we report the results of a screen for C. albicans biofilm-defective mutants, in which homozygous insertions in NUP85, MDS3, KEM1, and SUV3 were found to block biofilm development. Confocal microscopic examination suggests that nup85, suv3, and mds3 mutations cause early-phase arrest, whereas the kem1 mutation causes intermediate-phase arrest. All of the mutants are defective in hypha production in several media. Analysis of mixed-biofilm development indicates that all of the mutants are defective in the production of hyphae in the context of a biofilm. Because all of the mutants are defective in the retention of cells in the biofilm, we infer that hyphae provide an adherent scaffold that stabilizes the biofilm structure.

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Optimizing zinc oxide nanorods based DSSC employing different growth conditions and SnO coating

Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics ◽

10.1007/s10854-020-05001-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Syed Afaq Ali Shah ◽

Zhongyi Guo ◽

Muhammad Hassan Sayyad ◽

Jinghua Sun

Keyword(s):

Zinc Oxide ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Zinc Oxide Nanorods ◽

Oxide Nanorods

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Optimisation of zinc oxide nanorods for use in dye sensitised solar cells

Materials Research Innovations ◽

10.1179/1433075x11y.0000000007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. 401-405 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S K Lim ◽

H Q Le ◽

G K L Goh ◽

K K Lin ◽

S B Dolmanan

Keyword(s):

Zinc Oxide ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Zinc Oxide Nanorods ◽

Oxide Nanorods

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Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Nanocomposite Films Reinforced with Zinc Oxide Nanorods and Grapefruit Seed Extract

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11040877 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 877 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Swarup Roy ◽

Hyun Chan Kim ◽

Pooja S. Panicker ◽

Jong-Whan Rhim ◽

Jaehwan Kim

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stability ◽

Zinc Oxide ◽

Seed Extract ◽

Cellulose Nanofiber ◽

Nanocomposite Films ◽

Zinc Oxide Nanorods ◽

Precipitation Method ◽

Active Food Packaging ◽

Oxide Nanorods ◽

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Here, we report the fabrication and characterization of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based nanocomposite films reinforced with zinc oxide nanorods (ZnOs) and grapefruit seed extract (GSE). The CNF is isolated via a combination of chemical and physical methods, and the ZnO is prepared using a simple precipitation method. The ZnO and GSE are used as functional nanofillers to produce a CNF/ZnO/GSE film. Physical (morphology, chemical interactions, optical, mechanical, thermal stability, etc.) and functional (antimicrobial and antioxidant activities) film properties are tested. The incorporation of ZnO and GSE does not impact the crystalline structure, mechanical properties, or thermal stability of the CNF film. Nanocomposite films are highly transparent with improved ultraviolet blocking and vapor barrier properties. Moreover, the films exhibit effective antimicrobial and antioxidant actions. CNF/ZnO/GSE nanocomposite films with better quality and superior functional properties have many possibilities for active food packaging use.

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