Resveratrol-coated gold nanorods produced by green synthesis with activity against Candida albicans

• Published in: Virulence Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 2416550
• Main Authors: Fonseca Do Carmo, Paulo Henrique, Pinheiro Lage, Anna Carolina, Garcia, Maíra Terra, Soares da Silva, Newton, Santos, Daniel Assis, Mylonakis, Eleftherios, Junqueira, Juliana Campos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.12.2024; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Animals; Antifungal Agents - chemical synthesis; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Candida albicans - drug effects; Candida albicans - growth & development; Ergosterol; Ergosterol - biosynthesis; Filamentation; Gold - chemistry; Gold - pharmacology; Gold nanoparticles; Green Chemistry Technology; Larva - drug effects; Larva - microbiology; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nanotubes - chemistry; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Resveratrol - pharmacology; Biofilm; Ergosterol; Filamentation; Reactive oxygen species; Gold nanoparticles
• ISSN: 2150-5594; 2150-5608; 2150-5608
• DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2416550

is an opportunistic yeast capable of causing a wide range of mucosal, cutaneous, and systemic infections. However, therapeutic strategies are limited to a few antifungal agents. Inorganic nanoparticles have been investigated as carrier systems for antifungals as potential new treatments. In this study, we focused on the antifungal activity of gold nanorods, a specific rod-shaped gold nanoparticle, produced by green synthesis using resveratrol as a metal-reducing agent. The synthesis method resulted in stable control nanoparticles (AuNp) and resveratrol-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNpRSV) with medium sizes of 32.4 × 15.9 nm for AuNp, and 33.5 × 15.3 nm for AuNpRSV. Both AuNp and AuNpRSV inhibited the grown at 2.46 µg/mL, exhibited fungicidal effects at 4.92 µg/mL, and significantly decreased filamentation, biofilm viability, reactive oxygen species production and ergosterol levels of . In addition, exposure to AuNpRSV reduced the ability of to grow in the presence of cell membrane stressors. Transmission electron microscopy revealed enlargement of the cell wall and retraction of the cell membrane after treatment with AuNp and AuNpRSV. Promisingly, toxicity analysis demonstrated that both nanoparticles maintained the full viability of larvae at 49.20 µg/mL. In conclusion, both gold nanoparticles exhibited antifungal activity; however, these effects were enhanced by AuNpRSV. Altogether, AuNps and AuNpRSVs are potential antifungal agents for the treatment of infections.