title: Amphotericin B-conjugated biogenic silver nanoparticles as an innovative strategy for fungal infections.
abstract: New strategies are required to improve the efficacy of drugs and to treat the emerging microbial resistance. An effective strategy is to combine drugs with metal nanoparticles for the control of microbial infections and resistance. Keeping in view this fact, we developed a facile and eco-friendly protocol for the synthesis of amphotericin B-conjugated silver nanoparticles and their assessment as an antifungal agent. Phytochemicals from the aqueous extract of Maytenus royleanus and amphotericin B were used as capping agents to prepare two types of silver nanoparticles i.e. (i) biogenic silver nanoparticles (b-AgNPs) and (ii) amphotericin B-conjugated biogenic silver nanoparticles (Amp-bAgNPs). UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to detect the characteristic surface Plasmon resonance peaks (SPR) for the prepared nanoparticles (424-433 nm). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) study revealed the formation of well dispersed and spherical silver nanoparticles and Amp-bAgNPs with an average particles size of 10 and 15 nm. EDX and FTIR studies confirmed the elemental composition and surface adhered biomolecules in the prepared nanoparticles respectively. Biogenic silver nanoparticles revealed low to moderate antifungal activity (4-8 mm ± 0.2), however, the amphotericin B conjugated silver nanoparticles exhibited significant activity against Candida albicans (16 mm ± 1.4) and Candida tropicalis (18 mm ± 1.5). In conclusion, the enhanced antifungal activity of the Amp-AgNPs conjugate system is due to the synergy between the antifungal activity of amphotericin B and the antimicrobial property of silver. The findings of this study suggest that the conjugated nanoparticles could be used as efficient antifungal agents and drug delivery vehicles. Furthermore, this is the first report describing the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Maytenus royleanus and the conjugation of amphotericin B, an antifungal drug, to the phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 East Road of North Third Ring, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China. Electronic address: aftabbiochem@yahoo.com.
authors: Aftab
authors: A
authors: Ahmad
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 East Road of North Third Ring, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Wei
authors: Institute of Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Syed
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 East Road of North Third Ring, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors: Kamran
authors: K
authors: Tahir
authors: Institute of Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors: Raheela
authors: R
authors: Taj
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 East Road of North Third Ring, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors: Arif Ullah
authors: AU
authors: Khan
authors: Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors: Muhammad Usman
authors: MU
authors: Hameed
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 East Road of North Third Ring, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China. Electronic address: yuanqp@mail.buct.edu.cn.
authors: Qipeng
authors: Q
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D029755:Maytenus / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009181:Mycoses; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000378:metabolism*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012834:Silver; D000666:Amphotericin B
keywords: Amphotericin B- conjugated silver nanoparticles; Antifungal activity; Maytenus royleanus