Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized with Propolis Show Reduced Toxicity and Potential Activity Against Fungal Infections

Abstract

Aim: Elucidate the antifungal efficacy of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles with ethanolic propolis extract (AgNPs PE) against the planktonic forms and biofilms of clinically important fungi. Materials & methods: AgNPs were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antimicrobial activity. Results: AgNPs PE displayed a colloidal appearance, good stability and size of 2.0–40.0 nm. AgNPs PE demonstrated lower cytotoxicity and nonmutagenic potential. In addition, AgNPs PE displayed antifungal properties against all tested isolates, inhibiting growth at concentrations lower than the cytotoxic effect. Mature biofilms treated for 48 h with AgNPs PE showed significant reduction of viable cells, metabolic activity and total biomass. Conclusion: This is the first time that AgNPs have been synthesized from an ethanolic extract of propolis only, proving antifungal, antibiofilm, atoxic and nonmutagenic properties.

Antifungal Nano-Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: Current Status and Future Prospects

“…These NPs are the first-choice nanomaterials to be used as nanoantifungals due to their low cost, easy application, eco-friendly characteristics and wide viability [ 1 , 5 ]. They exhibit potential as antifungals [ 29 , 36 , 37 ], besides the other biomedical benefits [ 24 ]. These nanomaterials may have individual particle size dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nm with aggregate sizes have a higher size range.…”

“…at very low concentrations (<100 ppm) [ 16 , 60 ] and led to decreased mycotoxin production [ 1 , 61 ]. Also, Kischkel et al [ 37 ] observed the antifungal activity of the AgNPs against C. albicans , F. oxysporum and M. canis .…”

Therapies and Vaccines Based on Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Systemic Fungal Infections

“…Silver is one of the noble metals most commonly used to generate NPs due to its unique properties such as chemical stability, good conductivity, and antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal potential as well as displaying anti-inflammatory activity (Ahmad et al, 2003 ). Metallic NPs have been widely explored in the literature for their synthesis from biological sources (Dipankar and Murugan, 2012 ; Thangamani and Bhuvaneshwari, 2019 ; Kischkel et al, 2020 ). The synthesis of NPs from plants or microorganisms is possible based on metabolites and proteins present in the extracts.…”

“…have also been widely studied, both against planktonic cells and biofilms (Monteiro et al, 2011 ; Lara et al, 2015 ). Kischkel et al ( 2020 ) evaluated the efficacy of AgNPs carried with propolis extract (PE) against mature biofilms of Candida species and other fungi and observed that the concentration required for the fungicidal activity of the formulation was below the cytotoxic concentration.…”

DataSheet_1.docx

“…The effects of treatments on the cells were observed at 24 and 48 hours. The assay was performed as described by Kischkel et al (29).…”