Hydrothermal assisted biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles: A potential study on virulent candida isolates from COVID-19 patients

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 6;17(10):e0269864. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269864. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Till now the exact mechanism and effect of biogenic silver nanoparticles on fungus is an indefinable question. To focus on this issue, the first time we prepared hydrothermal assisted thyme coated silver nanoparticles (T/AgNPs) and their toxic effect on Candida isolates were determined. The role of thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) in the reduction of silver ions and stabilization of T/AgNPs was estimated by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, structure and size of present silver nanoparticles were detected via atomic force microscopy as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The biological activity of T/AgNPs was observed against Candida isolates from COVID-19 Patients. Testing of virulence of Candida species using Multiplex PCR. T/AgNPs proved highly effective against Candida albicans, Candida kruzei, Candida glabrata and MIC values ranging from 156.25 to 1,250 μg/mL and MFC values ranging from 312.5 to 5,000 μg/mL. The structural and morphological modifications due to T/AgNPs on Candida albicans were detected by TEM. It was highly observed that when Candida albicans cells were subjected to 50 and 100 μg/mL T/AgNPs, a remarkable change in the cell wall and cell membrane was observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • COVID-19*
  • Candida
  • Candida albicans
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Silver / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Silver

Grants and funding

There is no amendment in the funding statement (Omar M. Ali This study has been funded by the Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/81).