Antifungal activity of gold nanoparticles against dermatophytes isolated from infected patients at Nasiriyah educational hospital

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Biology, College of Education, University of AL-Qdisyah, AL-Qdisyah, Iraq

2 Department of Biology, College of Education, University of AL-Qdisyah, AL-Qdisyah, Iraq.

10.22103/jab.2025.24970.1677

Abstract

Objective
Fungal skin infections, particularly those created by dermatophytes, represent a meaningful global public health concern, especially in regions with warm climates and restricted access to antifungal therapies. Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic fungi that infect the skin, nails, and hair. Traditional antifungal treatments are often prolonged and may be compromised by resistance or side effects. Recent advancements in nanotechnology have introduced novel antimicrobial agents, containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This research investigates the antifungal efficacy of AuNPs against clinical dermatophyte isolates from patients in Nasiriyah, Iraq, aiming to evaluate their potential as alternative therapeutic agents. Gold nanoparticles are attended promising for addressing a range of medical challenges, containing the treatment of dermatophytic infections.

Materials and methods
This investigation was conducted in the laboratories of Mazaya College, a private university, applying clinical samples gathered from patients attending the Dermatology Department at Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital, in accordance with official authorization from the Dhi Qar Health Department. Sampling took place between March and September 2023. A total of 100 samples were gathered from male and female patients of numerous age groups suffering from skin fungal infections. Commercially prepared gold nanoparticles were tested at different concentrations to evaluate their antifungal efficacy. The fungal isolates were treated with varying concentrations of AuNPs, and inhibition of growth was measured.

Results
The results demonstrated that gold nanoparticles inhibited dermatophyte growth in a concentration-dependent manner. At concentrations of 25, 50, 75, and 100 µg/mL, the observed inhibition rates were 36.25%, 59.3%, 78.1%, and 96.35%, respectively. The data indicate that higher concentrations of AuNPs result in remarkably greater antifungal activity. Statistical analysis affirmed that the differences between all tested concentrations were meaningful (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
This investigation affirms the strong inhibitory effect of gold nanoparticles on dermatophyte growth, with efficacy increasing at higher concentrations. These results support the potential apply of AuNPs as an alternative or adjunct treatment for dermatophytic infections. Further in vivo investigations and clinical trials are recommended to establish their safety, effectiveness, and optimal dosing protocols for clinical application.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 17, Issue 2
May 2025
Pages 309-324

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