The effects of two prominent copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NP and Cu2O-NP), with the oxidation state of Cu++ (cupric) and Cu+ (cuprous), on Candida albicans were evaluated. CuO-NP and Cu2O-NP were synthesized and characterized by XRD, FESEM, HR-TEM and Zeta potential. At sub-MIC (50 µg ml-1), both cupric and cuprous oxide NPs prevented yeast-to-hyphae switching and wrinkling behaviour in C. albicans. The mechanism for the antifungal action of the two NPs differed; CuO-NP significantly elicited reactive oxygen species, whereas membrane damage was more pronounced with Cu2O-NP. Real time PCR analysis revealed that CuO-NP suppressed the morphological switching of yeast-to-hyphae by down-regulating cph1, hst7 and ras1 and by up-regulation of the negative regulator tup1. In comparison, Cu2O-NP resulted in down-regulation of ras1 and up-regulation of the negative regulators nrg1 and tup1. Between the two NPs, CuO exhibited increased antifungal activity due to its stable oxidation state (Cu++) and its smaller dimensions compared with Cu2O-NP.
Keywords: Candida albicans; Copper oxide nanoparticles; ROS generation; cell membrane integrity; ergosterol.