Influence of Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides on synthesis, stabilization, acute toxicity and antifungal activity of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles

• Published in: Biometals 2024-11
• Main Authors: de Souza, Álamo Lourenço, da Silva Campelo, Matheus, de Sousa Mesquita, Gabriel, Nobre, Augusto Feynman Dias, de Freitas Franco, Vitória Maria, Barreto, Antônio César Honorato, de Sousa, Jeanlex Soares, Honório Júnior, José Eduardo Ribeiro, Brilhante, Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira, Ricardo, Nágila Maria Pontes Silva, de Aguiar Soares, Sandra, Ribeiro, Maria Elenir Nobre Pinho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0966-0844; 1572-8773; 1572-8773
• DOI: 10.1007/s10534-024-00650-w

In general, nanomaterials tend to have better physical, chemical and biological properties than conventional materials. Furthermore, the polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom have several pharmacological properties, in addition to low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility. This work sought to merge the properties of CuO nanoparticles and Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides through syntheses and coatings with the aim of evaluating their toxicity in adult zebrafish and antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis. The nanoparticles were synthesized using the coprecipitation method and subsequently characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties using spectroscopic and thermoanalytical techniques. Furthermore, their composition was determined by X-Ray Diffraction and their morphology was studied using different microscopic techniques. CuO nanoparticles coated with Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides showed smaller particle size. Dispersions of nanoparticles coated with the polysaccharides were found to be more stable than their uncoated counterparts. The nanoparticles also showed antifungal activity against Candida sp. strains, with MIC values between 64 and 512 µg mL . It was observed that coating the materials with polysaccharides preserved their antifungal properties and reduced acute toxicity against adult zebrafish. Therefore, it is estimated that the CuO nanoparticles coated with Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides are innovative nanomaterials with potential for future clinical applications, especially in the topical treatment of candidiasis.