Browsing by Author "Silva, Stephane Edgar da"
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- Desenvolvimento de nanomateriais para aplicação no tratamento de infecções fúngicasPublication . Silva, Stephane Edgar da; Correia, Ilídio Joaquim Sobreira; Silva, Ana Sofia Matias daDermatophyte infections have been increasing in the last years, and the most common treatments present some disadvantages, like triggering microbial resistance after a continuous application. Therefore, there is a need to develop viable alternatives. Nanotechnology arises as a promising novel multidisciplinary area that is gaining enormous importance in science and technology, having hence, huge potential for biotechnology, biomedical sciences or pharmaceutical industry applications. Silver, which is known since the antiquity by their antimicrobial properties, was used in this work to produce nanoparticles in order to explore its antifungal potential. Nanoparticles have an increased surface area to volume ratio and thus, a contact area that allows a better interaction with microorganisms. Therefore, herein two different types of silver nanoparticles were produced: silver nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles coated with a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The nanoparticles produced were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Moreover, the antifungal activity of the two different types of nanoparticles was evaluated and the results showed that they have a good potential for the treatment of infections caused by fungi, since they present similar properties to those of particles previously described in the literature. The toxicity of nanoparticles was also studied, by using keratinocytes from the epidermal layer of the skin, in order to evaluate if the particles kill microorganisms without affecting human cells. The obtained results revealed that the nanoparticles produced have promising properties for their application for therapeutic purposes.
- PVP-coated silver nanoparticles showing antifungal improved activity against dermatophytesPublication . Silva, Stephane Edgar da; Saraiva, Sofia M; Miguel, Sónia P.; Correia, Ilídio Joaquim SobreiraFungal infections affecting human beings have increased during the last years and the currently available treatments, when administered for long periods, trigger microbial resistance. Such demands the development of new viable therapeutic alternatives. Silver is known since the antiquity by its antimicrobial properties and, herein, it was used to produce two types of nanoparticles (NPs), uncoated and coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which were aimed to be used in fungal infection treatment. NPs properties were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis, Dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, in vitro studies were also performed to evaluate NPs cytotoxic profile and antifungal activity. The results obtained revealed that the produced nanoparticles are biocompatible and have a good potential for being used in the treatment of common skin infections caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, being PVP-coated silver NPs the most suitable ones.