title: Antifungal activity of transparent nanocomposite thin films of pullulan and silver against Aspergillus niger.
abstract: Silver has been mainly investigated as an antibacterial agent and less as a fungicide in which concerns antimicrobial properties. In this research, the antifungal activity of composite films of pullulan and Ag nanoparticles (NP) against Aspergillus niger was evaluated using standard protocols. These new materials were prepared as transparent cast films (66-74 μm thickness) from Ag hydrosols containing the polysaccharide. Fungal growth inhibition was observed in the presence of such silver nanocomposite films. Moreover, disruption of the spores cells of A. niger was probed for the first time by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This effect occurred in the presence of the nanocomposites due to Ag NP dispersed as fillers in pullulan. This polysaccharide was used here as a biocompatible matrix, hence making these nanocomposites beneficial for the development of antifungal packaging materials.
authors.affiliation: CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo J B
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Adelaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Susana C M
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Carmen S R
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: Armando J D
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.forename: Carlos Pascoal
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005936:Glucans; D012834:Silver; C009109:pullulan