Seyed Mohammad Amini - Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Muhammad Ebraim Getso - Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria
Shirin Farahyar - Microbial Biotechnology Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sadegh Khodavaysi - Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Roudbary - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Vahid Pirhajati Mahabadi - Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Shahram Mahmoudi - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background and Purpose: Regarding the wide-spectrum antimicrobial effects of curcumin and silver, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of green-synthesized curcumin-coated silver nanoparticles (Cur-Ag NPs) against a set of Candida and Aspergillus species.Materials and Methods: Cur-Ag NPs were synthesized by mixing ۲۰۰ µL of curcumin solution (۴۰ mM) and ۱۵ mL of deionized water. The mixture was stirred for ۳-۵ min, followed by the addition of ۲.۵ mL of silver nitrate solution (۲.۵ mM). The resulting solution was incubated for ۳ days. Antifungal susceptibility of ۳۰ fungal isolates of Aspergillus and Candida to fluconazole and itraconazole, as well as the activity of Cur-Ag NPs against the isolates, were determined, both alone and in combination, using broth microdilution according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.Results: Cur-Ag NPs demonstrated promising antifungal activity, particularly against Candida species. The geometric mean value of the minimum inhibitory concentration of Cur-Ag NPs was significantly lower than that of fluconazole for all the studied fungi. Similarly, it was lower than those of itraconazole in C. albicans and A. fumigatus. The minimum fungicidal concentrations of Cur-Ag NPs were markedly better than those of fluconazole but still inferior to those of itraconazole.Conclusion: Cur-Ag NPs demonstrated indisputable antifungal activity and great potential that can be harnessed to combat fungal infections, particularly those caused by azole-resistant strains of Aspergillus and Candida.

Curcumin, Nanoparticles, Antifungal agents, Candida, Aspergillus