Combination of fluconazole with silver nanoparticles produced by Fusarium oxysporum improves antifungal effect against planktonic cells and biofilm of drug-resistant Candida albicans

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively studied because of their anti-microbial potential. Here, we evaluated the effect of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNP _bio ) alone and in combination with fluconazole (FLC) against planktonic cells and biofilms of FLC-resistant Candida albicans . AgNP _bio exhibited a fungicidal effect, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fungicidal concentration ranging from 2.17 to 4.35 μg/ml. The combination of AgNP _bio and FLC reduced the MIC of FLC around 16 to 64 times against planktonic cells of all C. albicans . There was no significant inhibitory effect of AgNP _bio on biofilm cells. However, FLC combined with AgNP _bio caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in the viability of both initial and mature biofilm. All concentrations of AgNP _bio , alone or in combination with FLC, were not cytotoxic to mammalian cells.

The results highlight the effectiveness of the combination of AgNP _bio with FLC against FLC-resistant C. albicans .

fluconazole resistance, biological nanoparticles, fungicidal effect