Antifungal activity and biocompatibility of alpha-AgVO3 microcrystals: A promising material against oral Candida disease

Author(s)

Alves da Silva Pimentel, Bruna Natalia ^[1] ; de Foggi, Camila Cristina ^[1] ; Barbugli, Paula Aboud ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Regiane Cristina ^[2] ; de Avila, Erica Dorigatti ^[1] ; Longo, Elson ^[2] ; Vergani, Carlos Eduardo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Dent, Rua Humaita 1680, BR-14801903 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, CDMF UFSCar, Washington Luis Km 235, POB 676, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications; v. 108, MAR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The number of studies on microcrystals containing silver has increased in recent decades. Among the silver-containing microcrystals, alpha-AgVO3 has gained prominence owing to its polymorphism that allows it to exert interesting antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of three different alpha-AgVO3 microcrystals when in solution. alpha-AgVO3 microcrystals were synthesized using the co-precipitation method at three different temperatures (10 degrees C, 20 degrees C, and 30 degrees C), and then characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The antifungal activity of alpha-AgVO3 microcrystals against Candida albicans was determined by estimating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Fluorescence images were obtained to confirm antifungal concentrations. To assess the biocompatibility of microcrystals applied at MIC and MFC on keratinocytes cells (NOK-si), an Alamar Blue assay, scanning electron microscopy, and a DNA gel integrity test were carried out. The quantitative and qualitative results showed that, regardless of the co-precipitation method used to synthetize alpha-AgVO3 microcrystals, C. albicans growth was visibly inhibited at 3.9 mu g/mL (MIC) and completely inhibited at 15.62 mu g/mL (MFC). The cytotoxic and genotoxic outcomes revealed that the MIC and MFC concentrations did not affect NOK-si cell morphology, proliferation, or DNA integrity. The search for new antimicrobial materials has been the focus of the research community recently because of increases in microbial resistance. The findings reported herein demonstrate a novel antifungal and non-cytotoxic material that could be used in biomedical and dental applications. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/25124-0 - Effect of antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of ±-Ag2WO4 and ²-Ag2MoO4 as titanium coating materials surfaces
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo Vergani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/13834-2 - Evaluation of the antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of alpha silver vanadate (a-AgVO3) microcrystals sinthesized in different temperatures
• Grantee: Bruna Natalia Alves da Silva Pimentel
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials
• Grantee: Elson Longo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 15/03654-7 - Antimicrobial activity of bimetallic oxides and of plasma-deposited film on denture base acrylic resin
• Grantee: Camila Cristina de Foggi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 15/03567-7 - Modification of the physicochemical properties with different coating materials of titanium implant abutment surfaces and evaluation of their effects on the development of a polymicrobial community representative of the oral cavity: an in vitro preliminar
• Grantee: Érica Dorigatti de Avila
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral