Antifungal Activity of Nanobiocomposite Films Based on Silver Nanoparticles Obtained Through Green Synthesis
Eduardo José Juca Mallmann1, Francisco Afrânio Cunha1,2, Enzo Victorino Hernandez Agressott3
1Grupo de Química de Materiais Avançados (GQMat) - Departamento de Química Analítica e Físico-Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus do Pici, CP 12100, Fortaleza, CE, 60451-970, Brazil.
Abstract:
The high incidence of Candida albicans infections has raised concerns regarding side effects and drug resistance, compounded by a limited number of alternative drugs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have prominent antimicrobial activity, but effective administration remains a challenge. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized via a green chemistry approach, using glucose as a reducing agent, and incorporated into an agar matrix to form a film (AgFilm). The AgNPs and AgFilm were characterized by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopic (AFM). The UV-Vis spectra of the AgNPs and AgFilm showed bands at 415 and 413 nm, respectively. The PXRD and UV-Vis data suggest that the growth of AgNPs was effectively inhibited in the AgFilm. The diameter of AgNPs dispersed in AgFilm was 76 ± 42 nm, and the thickness of the film and 35 ± 3 µm. The antifungal activity of AgFilm was evaluated against 20 strains of C. albicans, demonstrating high antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 19 ± 2 mm. Therefore, AgFilm could be a promising option for the treatment of superficial C. albicans infections.
