Efficacy of biogenic silver nanoparticles against clinical isolates of fungi causing mycotic keratitis in humans

Mycotic keratitis is mainly responsible for vision loss caused by various fungi. Sometimes, proper treatment of such infection is not possible due to unavailability of effective antifungal agents and development of resistance of such fungi to antimycotic drugs. Hence, it is necessary to search for potential antifungal agents, which can effectively eradicate fungal infection of eyes. Nanoparticles-based antifungal drugs overcome this problem by increasing permeability and properties of drug molecules. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesised by using Helminthosporium sp. and Chaetomium sp. following sequential reduction technique. The synthesised silver nanoparticles were detected primarily by UV-visible spectrophotometer showing absorption spectra at 424 and 433 nm, respectively. Nanoparticles tracking analysis confirmed the mean particle size of silver nanoparticles as 45 and 55 nm. The synthesised AgNPs showed significant antifungal activity against fungi causing mycotic keratitis, when used alone and in combination with ketoconazole and amphotericin B in the range of 30–70 microgram per millilitre of minimum inhibitory concentration. Thus, the synthesised AgNPs can be used to enhance the activities of ketoconazole and amphotericin B.
Source: IET Nanobiotechnology - Category: Nanotechnology Source Type: research