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Jangjou, A.;  Zareshahrabadi, Z.;  Abbasi, M.;  Talaiekhozani, A.;  Kamyab, H.;  Chelliapan, S.;  Vaez, A.;  Golchin, A.;  Tayebi, L.;  Vafa, E.; et al. Application of Antifungal Nanomaterials. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30967 (accessed on 19 July 2025).
Jangjou A,  Zareshahrabadi Z,  Abbasi M,  Talaiekhozani A,  Kamyab H,  Chelliapan S, et al. Application of Antifungal Nanomaterials. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30967. Accessed July 19, 2025.
Jangjou, Ali, Zahra Zareshahrabadi, Milad Abbasi, Amirreza Talaiekhozani, Hesam Kamyab, Shreeshivadasan Chelliapan, Ahmad Vaez, Ali Golchin, Lobat Tayebi, Ehsan Vafa, et al. "Application of Antifungal Nanomaterials" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30967 (accessed July 19, 2025).
Jangjou, A.,  Zareshahrabadi, Z.,  Abbasi, M.,  Talaiekhozani, A.,  Kamyab, H.,  Chelliapan, S.,  Vaez, A.,  Golchin, A.,  Tayebi, L.,  Vafa, E.,  Amani, A.M., & Faramarzi, H. (2022, October 24). Application of Antifungal Nanomaterials. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30967
Jangjou, Ali, et al. "Application of Antifungal Nanomaterials." Encyclopedia. Web. 24 October, 2022.
Application of Antifungal Nanomaterials
Edit

Fungi are a varied group of eukaryotic creatures that colonize a variety of ecological niches, each of which requires a specific set of morphological characteristics]. It has been projected that there are between 3 and 5 million different types of fungi in the environment and. of those, around 300 different species have the potential to cause diseases in humans. Because they most frequently infect people whose immune systems are compromised, the majority of the members of this fungus group are classified as opportunistic pathogens. Meanwhile, only a select few species provide a significant risk to people who are otherwise healthy. The human fungal pathogens are responsible for a wide variety of infectious diseases, including those that affect the mucosa, the skin, and the invasive tissue. Because of their rapid development, resistance to high temperatures (37 degrees Celsius), ability to exploit the host’s nutrition to their advantage, ability to penetrate tissues, and ability to avoid the host immune system, pathogenic fungi are successful in infecting humans and causing illness. The Cryptococcus, Mucor, Aspergillus, and Candida genus are some of the fungal species that are responsible for the majority of the fatal illnesses that are caused by fungi.

antifungal activity nanomaterials drug delivery systems

1. Metal Oxide and Non-Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

It is well known that nanoparticles can be effective antifungal agents in certain situations [1][2]. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine the antifungal capability of nanostructures, and the results have shown that these nanoparticles have a major suppressive effect on the vegetative growth of fungal mycelia. For instance, gold nanoparticles have been investigated for their potential antifungal action in Candida albicans biofilms [3][4]. This is due to the fact that, when combined with a photosensitizer, Au nanoparticles have the ability to enhance the efficacy of photodynamic treatment. Through direct contact with the pathogen’s lipids and proteins, Au nanoparticles have the potential to disrupt the cellular membranes of the pathogens. In addition, the combination of photosensitizers with metal nanomaterials might lessen the likelihood that infections will become immune to the effects of photodynamic treatment [3]. Kischkel et al. investigated the effectiveness of Ag nanoparticles in combination with propolis extract (PE) against Candida species as well as other fungus mature biofilms, discovering that the concentration needed for the formulation’s fungicidal action was lower than the cytotoxic concentration [5].
People who are immunocompromised are believed to be at a greater risk of contracting invasive fungal infections since, in most cases, immunosuppression is the cause of invasive fungal infections in humans. Nevertheless, in light of the extremely restricted supply of existing antifungal medications and the growing occurrence of multi-drug resistance, it is imperative that research be conducted into the development of novel and different antifungal agents. Because of their vast surface area and their ability to effectively adhere to the fungal cell surface, biocompatible composites of QDs and metal nanoparticles have drawn a great deal of attention from researchers working on the development of new fungicidal agents [6][7]. The inhibitory mechanism of cadmium telluride QDs on yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found and described by Han et al., which was linked to the accumulation of Cd2+ inside the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, which was then followed by cellular dysfunction or deformation [8]. As a result of the cell wall being corroded, the cell wall shrank, which made it possible for Cd2+ to enter the cell through a newly created route. In addition, the growth rate of yeast was slowed down by photoelectron activation of the orange light released by cadmium telluride QDs (17.07 nm/L), whereas the growth rate of yeast cells was slowed down by 18.01 nm/L utilizing the green light emitted. In light of this, the photosensitizing wavelength, as well as the fluorescent color of the light that is emitted, are both regarded as key physiochemical parameters that determine the inhibition rates of yeast employing cadmium telluride QDs. In an attempt to improve the effectiveness of a naturally occurring cytotoxic agent, researchers loaded sesamol onto cadmium sulfide QDs that had been modified by chitosan (10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.03.024). As a result, the cytotoxic activity of sesamol was significantly enhanced, and it has the potential to be an effective agent against disorders caused by fungi or a functioning drug delivery system.

2. Polymeric Nanoparticles

As shown in Table 1, antimicrobial polymers have cidal effects on both filamentous fungi and yeasts due to their cationic charge, which provides a high binding affinity to the negatively charged microbial membrane surface. These polymers have garnered a growing amount of interest in antifungal research as a result of the fact that they reduce the difficulty of finding novel antifungal targets and broaden the range of possible uses for both newly developed and already existing antifungal medicines. They are not expensive or time-consuming to make, and they can be chemically modified for a wider range of uses or incorporated into nanocomposites for controlled release [9]. As a consequence of this, there has been a renewed interest in the design of novel antimicrobial peptides that have enhanced physicochemical features.
Table 1. A table representing a summary of synthetic antifungal polymeric materials and the reported targets of these compounds.
Polymeric Materials with
Antifungal Activity
Cell Wall Membrane Intracellular
Targets
Toxic Effects Ref
Synthetic peptides with antimicrobial properties - Permeability to membrane Likely Reduced haemolytic activity [10]
Synthetic peptides with antimicrobial properties - Does not appear to show permeability for fungal cell membranes Capable of binding to nucleic acids Related to length of hydrophobic region [11]
(Nylon-3 copolymers) - Permeability to membrane - Reduced toxic effects, based on length of hydrophobic region [12]
Polyquaternium-1(PQ 1) Inhibits germination of conidia species Permeability to membrane Likely - [13]
Polyoctamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (POGH) - Permeability to membrane Likely Slightly [14]
Polyethylenimine (PEI) - Permeability to membrane Likely depolarization of cellular membrane, capable of binding to nucleic acids Slightly, related to the length of hydrophobic region [15]
Quaternary ammonium chloride derivatives of chitosan - Permeability to membrane Likely Reduced toxic effects [16]
(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3trimethylammonium chitosan chlorides) HTCC - Permeability to membrane Likely Reduced toxic effects [17]
Chitosan - Permeability to membrane Nucleus, capable of binding to RNA and/or DNA Reduced toxic effects [18]
Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMGH) derivatives Capable of targeting cell wall Permeability to membrane Likely Reduced toxic effects but after inhalation showing serve toxicity [19]
The use of amphotericin B deoxycholate as a medication in the treatment of severe fungal infections is still significant. Nevertheless, because the medicine is unable to pass across the blood–brain barrier, its application for the management of cryptococcal meningitis is restricted [20]. In the quest to find a brain medication delivery mechanism, several nanocarriers have been investigated, and some promising findings against Cryptococcus sp. have been revealed [21][22]. Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant as well as an emulsifier that increases nanoparticle absorption in the primary capillary endothelial cells of the brain in human and bovine-related cells. It was employed in the early research of nanocarriers. As a result of their ability to enhance the concentrations of the medication inside the brain by up to 20-fold one hour after injection, polysorbate 80 covered particulates are regarded as an effective “activator” for the brain [23]. Xu and colleagues produced amphotericin B-polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles that were coated with polysorbate for use in a mouse model of systemic delivery. The authors report that nanoparticles with a diameter of about 69 nanometers were found in greater concentrations inside the brain 30 minutes after the administration of liposomal amphotericin B. It is interesting to note that amphotericin B deoxycholate was not found throughout the brain; however, the overall survival rates were 80% for these nanoparticles, 60% for liposomal amphotericin B, and 0% for amphotericin B deoxycholate, respectively. According to Ren et al., polysorbate 80 increases the efficiency of the entrapment of amphotericin B throughout the polymeric matrix when it is in the form of PLA-b-PEG. In experiments conducted in vitro, 100% of the amphotericin B was liberated between the periods of 35 and 40 h. Between 60 and 70 h after mixing, practically all of the amphotericin B contained in the nanoparticles that included the polysorbate was liberated [24]. In vivo and in vitro evaluations of the effectiveness, toxic effects, and oral bioavailability of some of the abovementioned formulations were carried out with the use of amphotericin B-encapsulated PLGA–PEG nanoparticles. The MIC of these nanoparticles against Candida albicans cells was lower in comparison to the MIC of free amphotericin B. When measured using a hemolysis assay, the toxicity of the nano-formulations was significantly lower than that of Fungizone® (APOTHECON®, Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc., Bedford, OH, USA). After one week of oral administration of amphotericin B-encapsulated PLGA–PEG nanoparticles to rats, plasma creatinine as well as blood urea nitrogen levels were found to be normal. This was determined in vivo. Last but not least, the incorporation of glycyrrhizin acid resulted in an increase in the bioavailability of the encapsulated amphotericin B [25]. Synthesized nanoparticles comprising PLGA with chitosan encapsulating amphotericin B attained nanoscale dimension, high encapsulation capacity for amphotericin B, positive surface charge, and reduced polydispersity.

3. Carbon Nanoparticles

Antimicrobial properties may also be exhibited by various kinds of nanostructures based on carbon against various fungal and bacterial infections [26]. Nanomaterials that are based on carbon have the ability to thwart the growth of mycotoxigenic fungus and Escherichia coli [27]. Chitosan–carbon nanotube hydrogels, which are used in biomedicine for purposes, such as dressings, as well as medication delivery, were found to limit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida tropicalis [28]. On a silicon substrate, arrays of branched carbon nanotubes (also known as CNTs) were produced by the process of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Furthermore, Ni was employed as the catalyst, and it played a crucial part in the process of realizing branches in nanotubes that were vertically aligned. Under visible light, their antifungal action on Candida albicans biofilms was examined, and the results were compared to the activity of TiO2/CNT arrays and thin films of TiO2. As compared to the TiO2/CNTs and the TiO2 film, the TiO2/branched CNTs exhibited a photocatalytic antifungal activity that increased in significance [29][30]. Carbon dots were created by Parya Ezati et al. by utilizing glucose as a carbon source (GCD). In order to improve the functioning of the carbon dots, they were doped with heteroatoms, such as sulfur, boron, and nitrogen. The GCDs were extremely hydrophilic and durable in an aqueous system; moreover, the nitrogen-doped GCD (NGCD) exhibited the greatest polydispersity index with a value of 0.274. Every one of the GCDs possesses remarkable antioxidant action, with the NGCD having the highest level of activity. Both the sulfur-doped GCD (SGCD) as well as the boron-doped GCD (BGCD) display antibacterial activity that is much more effective against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. The NGCD demonstrates the highest level of antibacterial activity and is effective against both types of bacterial strains. The NGCD shows strong antifungal action against Penicillium citrinum and Candida albicans, whereas the SGCD is more effective in inhibiting the growth of Fusarium solani. In addition, even after being exposed to a significant dosage of 500 g/mL for 72 h, more than 80% of the mouse fibroblast L929 cells are still alive, demonstrating that the toxicity level is rather low [31]. Leudjo Taka and colleagues created a nanosponge composite made of polyurethane cyclodextrin co-polymerized with phosphorylated multiwalled carbon nanotube-doped Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles [32]. They then tested the effectiveness of the nanosponge’s antifungal properties against two different strains of Aspergillus. This nanocomposite had a MIC of 437.5 g/mL against both Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus fumigatus, and so this ratio is lower than the nanosponge that did not include doped nanoparticles, which had a value of 1750 g/mL. The antifungal effect is thought to be caused by the functional groups of the fungus membrane’s direct interaction with the nanocomposite, which then causes ROS creation and the interruption of the cell wall membrane. This is thought to be a probable effect of the addition of TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles to the material.

4. Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

Nanostructured lipid carriers are biocompatible and biodegradable because they are composed of a blend of solid lipid and a percentage of liquid lipid derived from natural sources [33]. Nanostructured lipid carriers are second-generation nanocarriers that have the potential to overcome the drawbacks of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). These drawbacks include drug loss and a reduced drug load bearing capacity as a result of the formation and reorganization of extremely high crystallinity structures during storage [34]. Because the addition includes the liquid lipid fractions, nanostructured lipid carriers have better properties. These enhanced attributes give increased drug retention capability as well as long-term durability. Given that the majority of medications are lipophilic in nature, this sort of strategy is more successful in drug delivery [35]. Itraconazole that was included in nanostructured lipid carriers demonstrated an encapsulation effectiveness of more than 98% across several trials and maintained its integrity after being stored for a period of six months [36]. Beloqui et al. investigated the biodistribution of nanostructured lipid carriers in rats following intravenous administration of the substance and found that radiolabeled nanostructured lipid carriers continue to circulate in the bloodstream up to 24 h after the delivery of the compound [37]. The size of the particles and electrical charge are further factors that play a role in the biodistribution of nanocarriers. The lung is responsible for capturing larger nanoparticles, while the bone marrow and liver are responsible for capturing microscopic particles. Positive nanoparticles are found throughout the kidney, whereas negative nanoparticles make their way back to the liver. As a result, nanostructured lipid carriers have evolved into useful options in the field of drug delivery research.
It was possible to produce NLCs and SLNs that could be rapidly loaded with amphotericin B. In addition, the nanoparticles demonstrated a decreased level of hemolytic potential in comparison to Fungizone®. When compared to free amphotericin B or Fungizone®, the NLCs and SLNs loaded with amphotericin B demonstrated superior antifungal activity against Candida albicans. According to the findings, these nano-formulations could improve antifungal effectiveness, raise the solubility of amphotericin B, and lessen the treatment’s harmful impact. This impact may well be caused by the continuous release of amphotericin B inside the nano-formulations, as well as by its monomeric nature. Amphotericin B, having a limited degree of agglomeration, is much more specific and attaches predominantly to ergosterol. Therefore, this property of amphotericin B may be responsible for this action [38].
The antifungal activity of SLNs has been explored with Candida strains that are resistant to many drugs. Against the species that were examined, SLNs packed with fluconazole showed superior efficacy in comparison to free fluconazole. These specially constructed SLNs demonstrated rapid drug release during the first half hour, followed by continuous release for the full 24 h [39][40]. The efflux pump’s overexpression is one of the primary mechanisms of resistance in yeasts. This process aids in the reduction in azole levels within the cell. In this particular instance, the enhanced sensitivity to antifungal agents may be connected to the fact that NLCs gave shielding to fluconazole, preventing the medication from being released from the cells and contributing to the heightened vulnerability. Additionally, the hydrophobic surface of engineered NLCs has the potential to enhance the amount of medicine that is able to penetrate yeast. The efficacy of NLCs containing fluconazole as well as lipid core nanoparticles was investigated in C. albicans resistant to fluconazole. Although the NLCs did not seem to be efficient, the lipid nucleus nanoparticles did show some degree of activity at lower fluconazole doses. In addition, the lipid nucleus nanoparticles containing fluconazole were effective in preventing fluconazole from being recognized by the efflux pumps seen in fungal cells [41].

5. ZnO Quantum Dots

“Quantum dots” (QDs) are spherical nanomaterials that are typically within 10 nanometers in size and have a size that is equivalent to or less than the Bohr radius of the substance [42]. This is the size range in which quantum confinement effects are most noticeable. Quantum confinement in QDs leads to the formation of active sites and surface defects, which, upon interaction with hydroxyl and oxygen ions, result in the formation of highly reactive superoxide and hydroxyl radicals [43]. In addition to this, ZnO nanoparticles facilitate broad spectrum antimicrobial action by targeting several molecular and cellular processes. This has the potential to prevent the future development of drug resistance in fungi. As a result, it is possible that the use of ZnO nanoparticles in conjunction with several other antifungal medications might result in a decrease in the typical dosages of antifungals, as well as the cost of therapy and the toxicity of the treatments [44]. In addition, the size-dependent toxic effects of ZnO nanoparticles toward microorganisms have been well reported, and it has been shown that a decrease in size results in an improvement in antimicrobial activity. Due to their smaller dimensions, ZnO QDs are capable of facilitating a significantly greater dissolution of Zn2+ ions throughout a solution [45][46]. This greater solubility of Zn2+ ions throughout a solution is thought to be accountable for an increase in ROS, which in turn leads to the peroxidation of biomolecules, as well as the death of cells in microbial pathogens [47]. Recent research demonstrated the broad array microbicidal effect of ZnO QDs (5–6 nanometers) against multidrug-resistant pathogens (Candida albicans and Escherichia coli). This finding suggests that the antibacterial activities of nano ZnO may be controlled by modifying the diameter of the particles. Nevertheless, in an investigation, Preeti Chand et al. illustrated the utilization of ZnO QDs in conjunction with antifungal medications of separate classes against drug-resistant and drug-susceptible strains of Candida albicans [48]. This was done in order to develop a biosafe, nano-based multi-functional structure of combination treatment against multi-drug resistant fungal pathogenic organisms, in which the concentration of drug can be reduced to minimize toxic effects while simultaneously benefiting from the benefit of multitargeted activity to restrict the development of fungal drug resistance. An essential theoretical goal for the surface functionalization of tiny (1–3 nm) ZnO quantum dot nanoparticles was conducted by Zahra Fakhroueian et al. in order to hinder the agglomeration and decomposition of nanomaterials in aqueous conditions [49]. The majority of the reagents employed in these processes include polymeric materials, organosilanes, PEG (polyethylene glycol), and oily herbal fatty acids. This is due to the fact that all of these substances are entirely soluble in water and have the potential to be utilized as biological probes in nanomedicine. The vegetable fatty acid-capped ZnO (QD nanoparticles) were produced by dissolving ZnO using the sol–gel technique with the involvement of nonionic surfactants as effective templates at a pH that was appropriate for the process. In the current research, the cellular toxicity of tiny ZnO QD nanoparticles bearing a specific blue fluorescence was the primary focus of the researchers' investigation, as it related to the targeted delivery of HT29 and MCF7 cancer cell lines. These studies demonstrated that ZnO QDs had minimal toxic effects on healthy cells (MDBK) and may eventually have a possible application in the field of cancer treatment. Due to the presence of these features, there is a possibility that a potential applicant in the field of nanobiomedicine could be produced. Antifungal and antibacterial capabilities were demonstrated by the robustly designed ZnO QD nanomaterials against Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus anthracis bacteria, as well as various fungi including Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Candida tropicalis, and Candida albicans, in comparison with the standard antibiotic toxicity. The ZnO QDs had a substantial growth-inhibiting effect on Candida albicans cells [50]. Oxidative stress was implicated in the antifungal activity of ZnO QDs against Candida albicans. This effect was mediated by the enhancement of endogenous ROS. In addition, endogenous ROS generation by ZnO QDs, as well as their effect on destroying fungal cells, was researched while an antioxidant known as ascorbic acid was present. The findings demonstrated that the antioxidant did not provide complete protection against the oxidative stress produced by ZnO QDs.

6. Peptides That Are Antimicrobial and Have Efficacy against Fungi

Antimicrobial peptides, or AMPs for short, are a component of the innate immune response. They are also known as host defense peptides. Furthermore, AMPs are molecules that can be created by plants, animals, and microbes, and they serve the purpose of defending the host from invasive diseases. These amphiphilic peptides have short sequences that are generally less than one hundred amino acids in length [51]. The AMPs have a cationic charge, and those that are rich in the amino acid histidine have potent antifungal action [52]. Cathelicidins are a good example of this behavior. This group of antifungal AMPs is a component of the human innate defense system. They are typically deposited inside the lysosomes of macrophages and, thus, are responsible for preventing fungal infections [53]. Despite this, there are certain AMPs that have anionic charges and need metallic ions in order to undergo biological activation [54]. Anionic AMPs are responsible for the formation of cationic salt bridges between anionic metallic ions and microbial membranes, which allows for increased membrane permeability. In contrast to cationic AMPs, the researchers' understanding of the antibacterial activity of anionic AMPs is still somewhat restricted, despite the fact that this mechanism is ascribed to certain anionic AMPs [55]. The disruption of the cellular membranes that results from the interaction of electrostatic attraction with anionic membranes is thought to be the primary antibacterial mechanism that cationic AMPs possess. In addition to this, some AMPs have the ability to translocate across the membrane as well as impacting on intracellular targets, therefore, inhibiting the production of proteins and DNA [52]. Additionally, AMPs are unstable molecules with a limited half-life, despite the fact that they have antibacterial actions. In the antimicrobial peptides database, there are now 1211 peptides of natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic origins that have antifungal activities [56].

7. Nanofibers

Due to their adjustable fiber diameter, adequate porosity, high specific surface area, high encapsulation effectiveness, as well as good consistency and flexibility, nanofibers have emerged as a focal point of study in recent years [57]. In a study by Hellen et al., the antibacterial activity of TiO2-CeO2 nanofibers against Candida glabrata, Candida albicans, and Candida krusei was assessed. The findings demonstrated the successful manufacture of mesoporous TiO2-CeO2 fibers with an average diameter ranging from 100 to 282 nanometers. According to the results of the antimicrobial experiment, the TiO2-CeO2 nanofibers considerably impeded the development of Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Candida albicans biofilms. The antifungal reaction against Candida glabrata was enhanced with CeO2 levels, but there was no rising trend detected for Candida krusei or Candida albicans. The TiO2-CeO2 nanofibers have intriguing antifungal capabilities and, as a result, they have the potential to be utilized in a variety of antifungal applications [58]. The use of dynamic high-pressure homogenization was explored in order to find a straightforward approach to the manufacturing of chitin nanofibers that is also environmentally friendly [59]. This method has been shown to be an extremely straightforward approach to the production of α-chitin nanofibers from yellow lobster. These nanofibers have a uniform width (below 100 nanometers) as well as a high aspect ratio, both of which could contribute to a significant development in the field of chitin applications. In addition, the resultant alpha-chitin nanofibers were studied and contrasted with natural alpha-chitin in terms of their thermal degradation, chemical and crystalline structures, and antifungal activity. The antifungal efficacy of chitin nanofibers against Aspergillus niger was investigated using biological tests, which revealed that the nanoscale nature of the nanofibers plays a significant role in this activity. Shinsuke Ifuku and colleagues manufactured silver nanoparticles on the surfaces of chitin nanofibers by reducing silver ions with ultraviolet light [60]. Chitin nanofibers have the potential to serve as effective substrates for the immobilization of silver nanomaterials in states of steady dispersion. Because of the action of the silver nanoparticles, the dispersion as well as the nanocomposite film that was made with acrylic resin exhibited the typical absorption behavior in the visible light area. Chitin nanofibers exhibited significant antifungal activity thanks to the presence of silver nanoparticles. Semnani et al. explored the in vitro antifungal effectiveness of eugenol-loaded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers as a result of the desired qualities of polyacrylonitrile [61]. Polyacrylonitrile is the significant phenolic component of clove essential oil used in the medical field. They conducted tests to determine how efficient this combination is against Candida albicans. The findings revealed that, when the ratio of eugenol was increased, there was an improvement in the average diameter of the nanofibers, which varied from 127 to 179 to 218 nanometers. The drug release characteristic of the specimens was progressive, and it was completed after 150 h. According to the findings, these eugenol-loaded nanofiber mats can be used either as a covering on a fabric substrate or even as a temporary wound dressing for cutaneous mucocutaneous candidiasis treatment in high-risk patient populations.

8. Antifungal Nanocomposites That Have SMOOTH Surfaces, Which Helps Reduce the Attachment of Microorganisms

In addition to providing other benefits, increasing the surface roughness of the substance can have an antibacterial impact since it reduces the number of locations where microbes can thrive. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was given antifungal qualities by Fouda et al. so that it could be used as dental filler. This was accomplished by using nanodiamonds to smooth the surface of the resin [62]. This is comparable to the research that was conducted by De Matteis et al., 2019, in which an increase in surface roughness led to a decrease in the attachment of Candida albicans [63]. Fouda et al., 2019, observed alterations in Candida albicans adhesion after adding biocompatible nanodiamonds to PMMA in several concentrations (zero, half, one, and one and a half percent by weight, respectively). A profilometer was used to determine the surface roughness, and a goniometer was utilized to determine the contact angle [62]. The appearance of valleys and peaks on the surface of PMMA was significantly reduced as a result of the incorporation of nanodiamonds into the material. When compared to the control group, this resulted in a reduction in the attachment of Candida albicans cells on the PMMA surface owing to a degradation of settling sites; the level of attachment that was determined to be the lowest was at one percent nanodiamonds.

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