High-performance carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized Au-Ag nanoparticles using gamma rays for management of the airborne fungus Aspergillus sydowii AGH-5 OP593090

Abstract

Background

The emergence of fungi resistant to existing antibiotics poses a challenge to scientists. Therefore, the use of nanoparticles as an alternative to antibiotics has become necessary in diseases treatment. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the antifungal effect of highly stable CMC/Au-Ag NPs against the human pathogenic fungi A. sydowii.

Methods

CMC/Au-Ag NPs were synthesized with gamma rays and characterized using “FTIR, XRD, DLS/zeta, SAED, SEM/EDX, and HR-TEM”. Antifungal potential of CMC/Au-Ag NPs against A. sydowii AGH-5 OP593090 was evaluated.

Results

The maximum nano-forming dose of gamma irradiation was 50 kGy. CMC/Au-Ag NPs were spherical mono-dispersed with an average diameter of 32.93 nm. CMC/Au-Ag NPs at 400 µL showed significant antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 34.2 ± 1.23 mm and 86.10 % reduction of mycelia biomass. The CMC/Au-Ag NPs displayed low cytotoxicity on normal human skin cells with IC₅₀ of 800.6 ± 3.52 µg/mL. At 1000 µg/mL, CMC/Au-Ag NPs revealed anti-inflammatory activity of 71.25 % with human erythrocytes.

Conclusion

CMC/Au-Ag NPs exhibited considerable antifungal activity against A. sydowii, suggesting potential usage in medical fields. The novelty of this study is the use of gamma irradiation in low-dose to synthesize CMC/Au-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles and their first use against the human pathogenic fungus, A. sydowii.