Size and shape dependant antifungal activity of gold nanoparticles: A case study of Candida

A simple and economical sonochemical approach was employed for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles. The effect of the reducing agents has been studied on the particle size, morphology and properties at the same ultrasonic frequency under ambient conditions. Gold nanodiscs of average diameter of 25 nm were obtained using tinchloride (SnCl2) as a reducing agent, while sodium borohydride (NaBH4) produced polyhedral structures of the average size of 30 nm. The time evolution of the UV–visible absorption spectra of the gold nanostructures shows the origin of peaks due to higher order quadrupolar modes apart from the peaks of the in plane and out plane dipolar surface plasmon modes. Surface area studies reveal the much higher surface area of the gold nanodiscs (179.5 m2/g), than the gold nanoparticles (150.5 m2/g) prepared by the sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. The gold nanoparticles exhibit excellent antifungal activity against the fungus, Candida. We investigated the effect of the gold nanoparticles on the H+-ATPase mediated H+ pumping by various Candida species. Gold nanodiscs displayed the stronger fungicidal activity compared to the gold polyhedral nanoparticles. The two types of gold nanoparticles inhibit H+-ATPase activity at their respective MIC values.

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► Effect of reducing agents on the size and morphology of gold nanoparticles under ultrasonic conditions.
► Detailed surface area and optical studies of gold nanoparticles.
► Anisotropic gold nanoparticles having high surface areas (180 and 150 m2/g).
► Excellent size and shape dependent antifungal activity of gold nanoparticles against the Candida strains.