Nanoparticles as New Therapeutic Agents against Candida albicans

Abstract

Candida albicans is an opportunistic dimorphic yeast. This organism is pathogen associated to superficial and systemic infections. Actually, Candida albicans represents an emergent pathogen especially in a patient with some immunity compromises. Added to this, the use of antifungal in an indiscriminate form has increased the resistance of the existing drugs. In this aspect, the nanotechnology generates the possibility of creating new therapeutic agents. Nanoparticles are structures of 1-100 nm with special physicochemical characteristics that allow it to function as therapeutic agents or as carriers of these. Palladium, silver, and gold metallic nanoparticles and iron, titanium, zinc, and copper oxides have been used as growth inhibitors. These nanoparticles have been proved alone or in form of nanocomposites. The objective of this chapter is to describe the state of the art of the use of nanoparticles as inhibitors of the growth of Candida albicans, as well as the most relevant results regarding the mechanisms involved in this inhibition.

Biofilm Eradication Using Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles

“…Reports on the antibiofilm activity of silver nanoparticles have been promising; showing that exposure to silver nanoparticles produced changes to the structural biofilm conformation of Candida albicans [27] and effectively inhibited E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation [24]. Unfortunately, silver nanoparticles are prone to aggregation, reducing their antimicrobial efficacy and therefore surface functionalization before application is important to prevent aggregation and enhance their killing efficacy in biofilms, and reduce their cellular uptake and cytotoxicity.…”

Red Microalgal Sulfated Polysaccharide–Cu2O Complexes: Characterization and Bioactivity

“…The applicative significance of the copper–polysaccharide interaction lies in the fact that microorganisms are extremely susceptible to copper, while copper is considered to be safe for external application on human skin, with a very low risk of adverse reactions . Indeed, numerous investigations have been conducted regarding the possible use of copper as an antimicrobial agent. − , These studies have shown that the bacterial toxicity of copper may be due to the displacement of essential metals from their native binding sites, interference with oxidative phosphorylation and the osmotic balance, and alterations of the conformational structure of nucleic acids, membranes, and proteins . In microorganisms, including microalgae, metals can cause the formation of reactive oxygen species that interact with lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, resulting in their degradation.…”

Nano Drug Delivery Platforms for Dental Application: Infection Control and TMJ Management—A Review

“…Conventionally, many antifungal medications such as nystatin and azoles, both systemically and locally, have been employed to tackle the infection but with unwanted side effects as well. Nanoparticles have been incorporated with copper, silver, and palladium, to inhibit the growth of many microorganisms such as candida albicans [ 68 ]. Used as an antifungal agent, it is capable of doing cell wall damage, increase in oxidative stress, and interaction with DNA [ 69 ].…”