Synergistic activity of gold nanoparticles with amphotericin B on persister cells of Candida tropicalis biofilms

Abstract

Aim: The antifungal activity was studied on sessile and persister cells (PCs) of Candida 23 tropicalis biofilms of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide 24 (CTAB-AuNPs) and those conjugated with cysteine, in combination with Amphotericin B (AmB). 25 Materials/methods: The PC model was used and synergistic activity was tested by the checkerboard 26 assay. Biofilms were studied by crystal violet and scanning electron microscopy. Results/Conclusions: 27 After the combination of both AuNPs and AmB the biofilm biomass was reduced, with significant 28 differences in architecture being observed with a reduced biofilm matrix. In addition, the CTAB-AuNPs29 AmB combination significantly reduced PCs. Understanding how these AuNPs aid in the fight against 30 biofilms and the development of new approaches to eradicate PCs has relevance for chronic infection 31 treatment.