In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Silver and Zinc Nanoparticles on Different Fungal Species

Abstract
Background: Due to the dramatic increase of opportunistic fungal strains and infection, searching for new method to kill or even stop their growing becomes mandatory. Nanoparticles as clusters of atoms in the size of 1-100nm is one of these method and it's what we use in this paper.
Aim of Study: From the current antifungal drugs, 3 of them were used in the present study. These were Itraconazole, Amphotercin B, and Terbinifine. Also, 2 metals in nanoparticles were used (silver and zinc oxide) to test the efficacy of these nanoparticles on different fungal strains. 16 fungal strains representing different fungal groups were tested.
Material and Methods: (1) Silver and zinc oxide nano-particles. (2) Well identified 16 fungal strains. (3) Antifungal drugs (Itraconazole, Amphotercin B, and Terbinifine).
Ag and Zn oxide nanoparticles tested against 16 fungal strains to detect Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Then, antifungal drugs (Itraconazole, Amphotercin B, and Terbinifine) tested against the same 16 fungal strains. Finally, combination between the nanoparticles and the antifungal drugs tested against the previous fungal strains.
Results: Comparison studies were performed on different fungal strains by using NPs, routine antifungal drugs, and combination between them. The most effective was the routine antifungal drugs then the combination and the weakest was the NPs.
Conclusions: Combination between NPs and antifungal drugs is promising and need more efforts to put it in practice.