{"title":"Photodynamic impact of curcumin enhanced silver functionalized graphene nanocomposites on Candida virulence","authors":"Dhivyabharathi Balakrishnan, Cheng-I Lee","doi":"10.1186/s11671-024-04017-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Candida</i> species are escalating resistance to conventional antifungal treatments, intensifying their virulence, and obstructing the effectiveness of antifungal medications. Addressing this challenge is essential for effectively managing <i>Candida</i> infections. The overarching objective is to advance the development of more efficient and precise therapies tailored to counter <i>Candida</i> infections. This study focuses on developing antifungal combined drugs using curcumin-enhanced silver-functionalized graphene nanocomposites (Cur-AgrGO) to effectively target key virulence factors of <i>C. albicans</i>, <i>C. tropicalis</i>, and <i>C. glabrata</i> (<i>Candida</i> spp.). The green reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using bioentities and active molecules makes this approach cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques. Combining Cur-AgrGO with photodynamic therapy (PDT) demonstrated effective antifungal and antibiofilm activity with delayed growth and metabolism. The nanocomposites effectively suppressed hyphal transition and reduced key virulence factors, including proteinases, phospholipases, ergosterol levels, and cell membrane integrity. The findings suggest that Cur-AgrGO + PDT has potential as a treatment option for <i>Candida</i> infections. This innovative approach holds promise for treating <i>Candida</i> infections.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\n","PeriodicalId":715,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Research Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7030,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nanoscale Research Letters","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-04017-5","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Candida species are escalating resistance to conventional antifungal treatments, intensifying their virulence, and obstructing the effectiveness of antifungal medications. Addressing this challenge is essential for effectively managing Candida infections. The overarching objective is to advance the development of more efficient and precise therapies tailored to counter Candida infections. This study focuses on developing antifungal combined drugs using curcumin-enhanced silver-functionalized graphene nanocomposites (Cur-AgrGO) to effectively target key virulence factors of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata (Candida spp.). The green reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using bioentities and active molecules makes this approach cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques. Combining Cur-AgrGO with photodynamic therapy (PDT) demonstrated effective antifungal and antibiofilm activity with delayed growth and metabolism. The nanocomposites effectively suppressed hyphal transition and reduced key virulence factors, including proteinases, phospholipases, ergosterol levels, and cell membrane integrity. The findings suggest that Cur-AgrGO + PDT has potential as a treatment option for Candida infections. This innovative approach holds promise for treating Candida infections.
期刊介绍:
Nanoscale Research Letters (NRL) provides an interdisciplinary forum for communication of scientific and technological advances in the creation and use of objects at the nanometer scale. NRL is the first nanotechnology journal from a major publisher to be published with Open Access.