Controlled Size Silver Nanoparticles Stabilised with Trisodium Citrate as Carriers for Econazole Nitrate: Synthesis, Characterization and Antifungal Activity

Malassezia furfur is a type of yeast present in the human skin microbiome and is linked to a number of skin conditions. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are efficient against a variety of fungal infections. Econazole nitrate (ECN) is a broad-spectrum antifungal medication. The objectives of this study were to synthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles loaded with econazole nitrate (ECN loaded Ag-NPs) and to evaluate the in-vitro inhibitory activity of nanoparticles against various fungal species. The Ag-NPs are synthesized using a chemical reduction method, utilizing trisodium citrate as a stabilizing and reducing agent. Different amounts of ECN were loaded onto the nanoparticles. The surface plasmon resonance peak was at 433 nm. FT-IR studies confirmed C-O and N = O chemical bonds in ECN-formed bonds with Ag-NPs. The ECN loaded Ag-NPs were spherical and crystalline in nature, with a size of 51.8 nm. The polydispersity index was 0.342 and a zeta potential value of -29.4. Antifungal activity of blank and loaded Ag-NPs is tested against four different strains: Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Malassezia furfur. The produced ECN loaded Ag-NPs exhibited a fungicidal effect with low minimal inhibitory concentration values. Ag-NPs and ECN exhibited synergistic effects. Additionally, it is observed that ECN-loaded Ag-NPs inhibited Malassezia furfur growth to a greater extent than that of Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata and to a lesser extent against Candida albicans. The broad-spectrum antifungal drug econazole nitrate, when combined with the antimicrobial and fungicidal action of Ag-NPs, exhibited great antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur.