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Antifungal activity of nano and micro charcoal particle polymers against Paecilomyces variotii, Trichoderma virens

Hee Jin Yang1, Yun Jeong Cha1, Hern Kim1

  • 1Department of Energy and Biotechnology, Myongji University, Yongin 449-728, Republic of Korea.

New Biotechnology
|August 17, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This study shows that polymers with nano-porous charcoal effectively inhibit filamentous fungi growth. The material reduces calcium ion (Ca2+) uptake, crucial for fungal cell function.

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Mycology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Filamentous fungi pose significant challenges in various industries.
  • Developing novel antifungal materials is crucial for controlling fungal growth.
  • Polymer composites offer versatile platforms for integrating functional nanoparticles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antifungal efficacy of a novel polymer integrated with nano-porous charcoal particles.
  • To evaluate the material's effect on the mycelial growth of Paecilomyces variotii, Chaetomium globosum, and Trichoderma virens.
  • To elucidate the mechanism behind the observed antifungal activity.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of charcoal polymers by combining charcoal powders with plastic resin under vacuum.
  • Surface characterization of charcoal particle protrusions on the polymer.
  • Assessment of antifungal activity through mycelial growth inhibition assays.
  • Measurement of calcium ion (Ca2+) adsorption capacity of the polymers.

Main Results:

  • Significant reduction in mycelial growth for Paecilomyces variotii (10%) and Trichoderma virens (30%) after conidia pre-treatment.
  • Complete inhibition of Chaetomium globosum mycelial growth over a 5-day culture period.
  • Demonstrated adsorption of approximately 15 mM Ca2+ from CaCl2 solution by 0.2 g/mL of polymers within 5 hours.
  • Attributed antifungal activity to the nano-porous charcoal's ability to adsorb Ca2+, reducing its influx into fungal hyphae.

Conclusions:

  • The developed polymer integrated with nano-porous charcoal exhibits potent antifungal properties against key filamentous fungi.
  • The antifungal mechanism is linked to the material's capacity for calcium ion adsorption, disrupting fungal physiology.
  • This composite material presents a promising solution for controlling fungal contamination in various applications.

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