Effect of Allium cepa loaded polyacrylonitrile and polyvinyl pyrrolidone nanofibers on Candida albicans growth and the expression of CDR۱ and CDR۲ genes

Background and Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effect of Allium cepa ethanolic extract (ACE) loaded polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers on Candida albicans (C. albicans) CDR۱ and CDR۲ genes expression.Materials and Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ACE against C. albicans ATCC ۱۰۲۳۱ and clinical fluconazole (FLC)-resistant C. albicans PFCC ۹۳-۹۰۲ were determined using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol (M۲۷-Ed۴) at a concentration range of ۴۵.۳-۵۸۰۰ µg/ml. The nanofibers containing ACE (۶۰ wt%) were fabricated using the electrospinning technique. The expression of the CDR۱ and CDR۲ genes was studied in the fungus exposed to ACE loaded nanofibers and ۰.۵×MIC concentration of FLC using the real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: MIC۵۰ and MIC۹۰ of ACE against FLC-resistant C. albicans were ۷۲۵ and ۱۴۵۰/mL, respectively. The expression of CDR۱ (۴.۵-fold) and CDR۲ (۶.۳-fold) were down-regulated after the exposure of FLC-resistant C. albicans to ACE-loaded nanofibers (P<۰.۰۵). Furthermore, the expression of CDR۱ (۲.۸-fold) and CDR۲ (۳.۲- fold) were up-regulated in FLC-treated C. albicans (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The results revealed that nanofibers containing ACE interact with drug resistant genes expressed in C. albicans. Further studies are recommended to investigate the mode of action and other biological activities of ACE-loaded nanofibers against C. albicans and other pathogenic fungi

Keywords:

Allium cepa , candida albicans , CDR۱/CDR۲ , Gene expression , PAN/PVP nanofibers