Antifungal Properties of Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles Functionalized with Nystatin for the Inhibition of Candida albicans Biofilm Formation

Abstract

In the present study, biogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have been prepared using <i>Paenibacillus terreus</i> and functionalized with nystatin (SeNP@PVP_Nystatin nanoconjugates) for inhibiting growth, morphogenesis, and a biofilm in <i>Candida albicans</i>. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis has shown a characteristic absorption at 289, 303, and 318 nm, and X-ray diffraction analysis has shown characteristic peaks at different 2θ values for SeNPs. Electron microscopy analysis has shown that biogenic SeNPs are spherical in shape with a size in the range of 220-240 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has confirmed the functionalization of nystatin on SeNPs (formation of SeNP@PVP_Nystatin nanoconjugates), and the zeta potential has confirmed the negative charge on the nanoconjugates. Biogenic SeNPs are inactive; however, nanoconjugates have shown antifungal activities on <i>C</i>. <i>albicans</i> (inhibited growth, morphogenesis, and a biofilm). The molecular mechanism for the action of nanoconjugates via a real-time polymerase chain reaction has shown that genes involved in the RAS/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway play an important role in antifungal activity. In cytotoxic studies, nanoconjugates have inhibited only 12% growth of the human embryonic kidney cell line 293 cells, indicating that the nanocomposites are not cytotoxic. Thus, the biogenic SeNPs produced by <i>P. terreus</i> can be used as innovative and effective drug carriers to increase the antifungal activity of nystatin.