Abstract
Beta vulgaris extract contains water-soluble red pigment betanin and is used as a food colorant. In this study, the biogenic Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, including UV–Visible, FTIR, TEM. SEM-EDX, XRD, and TGA. Further, Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles capped with Beta vulgaris biomolecules were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans via targeting its major virulence factors, including adherence, yeast to hyphae transition, extracellular enzyme secretion, biofilm formation, and the expression of genes related to these pathogenic traits by using standard methods. C. albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality, mainly in immunocompromised patients. The current antifungal therapy is limited with various shortcomings such as host toxicity and developing multidrug resistance. Therefore, the development of novel antifungal agents is urgently required. Furthermore, NPs were screened for cell viability and cytotoxicity effect. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed potent antifungal activity of the Ag-Cu bimetallic NPs with a significant inhibitory effect on adherence, yeast to hyphae transition, extracellular enzymes secretion, and formation of biofilms in C. albicans at sub-inhibitory and inhibitory concentrations. The RT-qPCR results at an MIC value of the NPs exhibited a varying degree of downregulation in expression levels of virulence genes. Results also revealed the dose-dependent effect of NPs on cellular viability (up to 100%) using MUSE cell analyzer. Moreover, the low cytotoxicity effect of bimetallic NPs has been observed using haemolytic assay. The overall results indicated that the newly synthesized Ag-Cu bimetallic NPs capped with Beta vulgaris are proven to possess a potent anticandidal activity, by affecting the vital pathogenic factors of C. albicans.
Highlights
This article is an open access articleBeta vulgaris is a rich source of water-soluble nitrogenous pigments known as betalains, classified into red-violet and yellow pigments that have long been used natural colorants in food
As a result of the production of different hydrolytic enzymes, morphogenesis, and formation of drug-resistant biofilms in C. albicans, there is an urgent need for innovative strategies to develop new and safer antifungal agents targeting various virulence factors in C. albicans and successfully eradicating life-threatening infections caused by this pathogenic yeast
The biosynthesized Ag-Cu nanoalloy was implemented in evaluation of cytotoxicity against various bacteria and fungi; we investigate virulence against fungi, i.e., C. albicans
Summary
Beta vulgaris is a rich source of water-soluble nitrogenous pigments known as betalains, classified into red-violet (betacyanins) and yellow (betaxanthins) pigments that have long been used natural colorants in food. The biogenic method of synthesis of nanoparticles has been found to be advanced in comparison to other synthetic approaches; phytochemicals are being utilized as reducing/capping agents [25] These methods are effective in certain conditions and depend on extraction solvent, solvent concentration, plant parts, pH of the reaction mixture, and salt concentration [5]. As a result of the production of different hydrolytic enzymes, morphogenesis, and formation of drug-resistant biofilms in C. albicans, there is an urgent need for innovative strategies to develop new and safer antifungal agents targeting various virulence factors in C. albicans and successfully eradicating life-threatening infections caused by this pathogenic yeast. These NPs were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity using horse red-blood cells
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