Effects of a nanoparticulate silica substrate on cell attachment of Candida albicans.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of silica nanoparticles on the attachment and growth of Candida albicans cells.


RESULTS
Spherical silica nanoparticles with diameters of 4, 7, 14 or 21 nm were attached to tissue culture polystyrene by a polycationic binding layer using a simple deposition procedure. The modified surfaces were shown to reduce the attachment and growth of C. albicans cells by a range of different measurements including microscopy, staining cells and measuring the amount of dye taken up and total cell activity measured using a dye reduction assay. For those cells that did attach and grow, the nanoparticle-coated surface inhibited the yeast to hyphal transition that is induced in the presence of serum. The greatest effect was observed for 7 and 14 nm diameter silica particles and we propose that the mechanism for these effects are related to either the topography of the surface or the slow dissolution of the bound silica.


CONCLUSIONS
The attachment and growth of C. albicans is reduced by surface modification with silica nanoparticles.


CONCLUSIONS
The modification of surfaces by nanoparticulate coatings is a simple process that may have applications in reducing the prevalence of Candida sp. cells on medical devices thus, limiting the incidence of this pathogenic yeast in clinical environments.
Cousins
B G
BG
School of Clinical Sciences, Division of Clinical Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. kj26@liv.ac.uk <kj26@liv.ac.uk>
Allison
H E
HE
Doherty
P J
PJ
Edwards
C
C
Garvey
M J
MJ
Martin
D S
DS
Williams
R L
RL
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000737:chemistry
D003470:Culture Media; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011137:Polystyrenes; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C059087:2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide