Amphotericin B-silver hybrid nanoparticles: synthesis, properties and antifungal activity

Abstract High antifungal activity is reported, in comparison with commercially available products, of a novel hybrid system based on silver nanoparticles synthesized using a popular antifungal macrocyclic polyene amphotericin B (AmB) acting both as a reducing and stabilizing/capping agent. The synthesis reaction proceeds in an alkaline environment which prevents aggregation of AmB itself and promotes nanoparticle formation. The innovative approach produces monodisperse (PDI = 0.05), AmB-coated silver nanoparticles (AmB-AgNPs) with the diameter ~ 7 nm. The products were characterized using imaging (electron microscopy) and spectroscopic (UV–vis and infrared absorption, dynamic light scattering and Raman scattering) methods. The nanoparticles were tested against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium culmorum species. For cytotoxicity studies CCD-841CoTr and THP-1 cell lines were used. Particularly high antifungal activity of AmB-AgNPs is interpreted as the result of synergy between the antifungal activity of amphotericin B and silver antimicrobial properties (Ag + ions release). From the Clinical Editor Amphotericin B (AmB) is a common agent used for the treatment against severe fungal infections. In this article, the authors described a new approach in using a combination of AmB and silver nanoparticles, in which the silver nanoparticles were synthesized and stabilized by AmB. Experimental data confirmed synergistic antifungal effects between amphotericin B and silver. This novel synthesis process could potentially be important in future drug development and fabrication.