• Antifungal Effect of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Candida Species
  • Mohammad Hossein Hajali,1 Ensieh Lotfali,2,* Ali Asgharzadeh,3 Mahyar Keymaram,4
    1. School of medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
    2. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    3. School of medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    4. Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Candida species are one of the opportunistic associates of the common flora of skin, mouth and vagina that is known to initiate severe fungal infections. Between the new agents utilized as antimicrobials, nanoparticles are under especial consideration. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are broadly used for their high biocompatibility, nontoxicity and simple organization. These NPs have exclusive features such as high surface to volume ratio that initiate them as relevant antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal effects of CuO NPs against Candida species.
  • Methods: Copper Oxide Nanoparticles were synthesized. These nanoparticles are approved by transmission electron microscope, and nanocomposite structure was also confirmed by scanning electron microscope. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CuO NPs for twelve Candida albicans strains were determined in microdilution broth technique according to CLSI M27-A3/S4.
  • Results: The results of this study indicate that the effects of CuO NPs are comparable to amphotericin B as standard antifungal. The MIC50 value of CuO NPs was determined at the range of 2-32µg/ml for Candida albicans strains. Higher concentrations of CuO NPs (32 µg/ml) were effective on the Candida cell growth, resulting in 100% reduction in the optical density in sabouraud dextrose broth medium.
  • Conclusion: Our findings indicated an excessive antimicrobial effect of CuO NPs against pathogenic Candida species and could reduce the growth of all established Candida sp. Thus, CuO nanoparticles can be consumed in treatment of infections initiated by this fungus.
  • Keywords: Copper oxide nanoparticles; Antifungal; Candida Species.