Polyaniline/CoFe < inf > 2 < /inf > O < inf > 4 < /inf > nanocomposite inhibits the growth of Candida albicans 077 by ROS production

Abstract

In recent years, polyaniline/CoFe2O4 nanocomposites have gained attention because of their wide utilization in optoelectronics and biomedical studies. However, very limited research has been carried out on the anticandidal activity of polyaniline/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite against Candida spp. Thus, the study was designed to investigate the anticandidal potential of PANI/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite against Candida albicans 077. PANI/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite (denoted as "cfPNCs") was synthesized by polymerization of aniline in the presence of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The structural and thermal properties of the synthesized PANI/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite were investigated. It was noteworthy that PANI/CoFe 2O4 nanocomposite showed promising anticandidal activity in a dose-dependent manner. Results also showed that the protection of histidine (a ROS quencher) against ROS clearly suggested the implication of ROS in anticandidal activity of PANI/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite. It is encouraging to conclude that PANI/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite bears the potential of their applications in biomedicine, especially nanotherapy for diseases caused by C. albicans. © 2013 Académie des sciences.