title: Antimicrobial Activity of Biocompatible Microemulsions AgainstAspergillus nigerand Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microemulsions (MEs), which consist of oil, water, surfactants, and cosurfactants, have recently generated considerable interest as antimicrobial agents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the antifungal and antiviral activities of three ME formulations (MEa, MEb, and MEc) that differ in their hydrophilicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ME formulas were produced by mixing different fractions of Tween 80, Span 20, ethanol, oil, isopropyl myristate, and distilled water. The antifungal activity of the ME formulas againstAspergillus niger,A. flavus,Bacillus,Candida albicans, andC. glabratawere determined by the solid medium diffusion cytotoxicity test against the mitochondria, measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration, dry biomass, and leakage of potassium, and characterizing the cell morphology. The antiviral activities of the ME formulas against the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) were determined using the cytopathic effect assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant antimicrobial activities were recorded againstA. nigerand herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) when treated with MEb that had hydrophobic nanodroplets with an average diameter of 4.7 ± 1.22 nm. A volume of 0.1 mL of MEb (10 mL of potato dextrose broth) inhibited the germination ofA. nigercells, reduced their dry biomass, enhanced the leakage of potassium from the cell membranes, affected their mitochondria, and altered the shape of their conidia, in addition to enlarging them. MEb was able to destroy the HSV-2 virus at a 200-fold dilution in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The water-in-oil ME with equivalent surfactant-to-oil ratio (MEb) has great potential as an antifungal and antiviral agent.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mayson H
authors: MH
authors: Alkhatib
authors: Department of Biology Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
authors: Magda M
authors: MM
authors: Aly
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rajaa A
authors: RA
authors: Rahbeni
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Khadijah S
authors: KS
authors: Balamash
keywords: Antifungal Agents; Antiviral Agents; Cell Respiration; Cytopathic Effect; Cytotoxicity Tests; Nanoparticles