Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Gold Nanoparticles Against Candida Albicans Isolated from Children with Early Childhood Caries

Abstract

Candida albicans is an opportunistic oral pathogenic fungi and effector in the etiology of early childhood caries (ECC). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development has led to a search for potential alternative antimicrobial agents, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Objectives: The aim of this study performed a comparative evaluation of antifungal activity of AuNPs against C. albicans isolated from children with ECC and a (0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX)). Methods: Oral samples were obtained from 10 children with ECC aged 4-6 years. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (with 2 g/L chloramphenicol) and incubated at 37°C for 48 h, with C. albicans identification based on colony morphology, Gram staining, germ tube formation and analytical profile index (API) Candida system biochemical identification. The agar well diffusion method was performed to Test the antifungal activity of AuNPs with concentrations of 0.195 to100 ppm. Positive control was 0.2% CHX solution and negative control was deionized water. Results: AuNPs exhibited a concentration-dependent antifungal activity towards C. albicans. The maximum one was found out at 100 ppm (23.3 ± 0.06 mm) followed by 50 ppm (20.3 ± 0.06 mm) and 25 ppm (18.7 ± 0.06 mm). With the decrease in AuNP concentration, the inhibition zone gradually declined, which reached 5.7 ± 0.06 mm at concentration of 0.391 ppm. There was no inhibition at 0.195 ppm or deionized water. The inhibition zone of 19.3 ± 0.06 mm was produced by CHX. Conclusions: AuNPs exerted strong antifungal activity against oral C. albicans isolated from children with ECC in a dose-dependent manner. At higher concentrations, they had an antimicrobial activity exceeding that observed with 0.2% of CHX.

Keywords:

AuNPs, CHX, ECC, C. albicans, Antimicrobial Activity

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