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Silver nanoparticles embedded mesoporous SiO₂ nanosphere: an effective anticandidal agent against Candida albicans
M Qasim1, Braj R Singh, A H Naqvi
1School of Engineering Sciences and Technology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
Abstract:
Candida albicans is a diploid fungus that causes common infections such as denture stomatitis, thrush, urinary tract infections, etc. Immunocompromised patients can become severely infected by this fungus. Development of an effective anticandidal agent against this pathogenic fungus, therefore, will be very useful for practical application. In this work, Ag-embedded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (mSiO2@AgNPs) have successfully been synthesized and their anticandidal activities against C. albicans have been studied. The mSiO2@AgNPs nanoparticles (d ∼ 400 nm) were designed using pre-synthesized Ag nanoparticles and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a precursor for SiO2 in the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as an easily removable soft template. A simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach has been adopted to synthesize silver (Ag) nanoparticles using silver nitrate and leaf extract of Azadirachta indica. The mesopores, with size-equivalent diameter of the micelles (d = 4-6 nm), were generated on the SiO2 surface by calcination after removal of the CTAB template. The morphology and surface structure of mSiO2@AgNPs were characterized through x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size analysis (PSA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The HRTEM micrograph reveals the well-ordered mesoporous structure of the SiO2 sphere. The antifungal activities of mSiO2@AgNPs on the C. albicans cell have been studied through microscopy and are seen to increase with increasing dose of mSiO2@AgNPs, suggesting mSiO2@AgNPs to be a potential antifungal agent for C. albicans 077.
Insights
Silver-embedded mesoporous silica nanoparticles show promise as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans. This study details their synthesis and demonstrates dose-dependent anticandidal activity, offering a potential new treatment for fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Mycology
Background:
- Candida albicans is a common fungal pathogen causing infections like thrush and UTIs, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
- Developing effective anticandidal agents is crucial for clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize silver-embedded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (mSiO2@AgNPs).
- To investigate the anticandidal activity of mSiO2@AgNPs against Candida albicans.
Main Methods:
- mSiO2@AgNPs synthesized using pre-formed Ag nanoparticles and TEOS, with CTAB as a template.
- Silver nanoparticles prepared using a green synthesis method with Azadirachta indica leaf extract.
- Characterization via XRD, FTIR, PSA, AFM, FESEM, BET, and HRTEM.
- Antifungal activity assessed through microscopy.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of mSiO2@AgNPs with a well-ordered mesoporous structure.
- Characterization confirmed the nanoparticles' morphology and structure.
- Antifungal activity against C. albicans increased with higher doses of mSiO2@AgNPs.
Conclusions:
- mSiO2@AgNPs exhibit significant anticandidal activity against Candida albicans.
- These nanoparticles represent a potential therapeutic agent for treating C. albicans infections.
