Effective Control of Molds Using a Combination of Nanoparticles

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 25;12(1):e0169940. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169940. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Molds are filamentous fungi able to grow on a variety of surfaces, including constructed surfaces, food, rotten organic matter, and humid places. Mold growth is characterized by having an unpleasant odor in enclosed or non-ventilated places and a non-aesthetic appearance. They represent a health concern because of their ability to produce and release mycotoxins, compounds that are toxic to animals and humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate commercial nanoparticles (NPs) that can be used as an additive in coatings and paints to effectively control the growth of harmful molds. Four different NPs were screened for their antifungal activities against the mycotoxin producing mold strains Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the NPs were determined in broth media, whereas an agar diffusion test was used to assess the antimold activity on acrylic- and water-based paints. The cytotoxic activity and the inflammatory response of the NPs were also evaluated using the established human derived macrophage cell line THP-1. Results showed that a combination of mix metallic- and ZnO-NPs (50:10 μg/mL) effectively inhibited the fungal growth when exposed to fluorescent light. Neither cytotoxic effect nor inflammatory responses were recorded, suggesting that this combination can be safely used in humid or non-ventilated environments without any health concerns.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates
  • Aspergillus flavus / drug effects*
  • Aspergillus flavus / growth & development
  • Aspergillus flavus / radiation effects
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / drug effects*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / growth & development
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / radiation effects
  • Cell Line
  • Culture Media
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests
  • Fluorescence
  • Fungicides, Industrial / pharmacology*
  • Fungicides, Industrial / toxicity
  • Gold / pharmacology
  • Gold / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Macrophage Activation
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Nanoparticles
  • Paint / analysis
  • Paint / microbiology*
  • Particle Size
  • Silver / pharmacology
  • Silver / toxicity
  • Water
  • Zinc Oxide / pharmacology
  • Zinc Oxide / toxicity

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Culture Media
  • Cytokines
  • Fungicides, Industrial
  • Water
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • acrylic acid
  • Zinc Oxide

Grants and funding

This study was partially supported by the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Health Research (01369-000). There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.