Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles Based Phytolectin Scaffolds Inhibit Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Causing Candida albicans

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a most common infection caused by Candida species especially, Candida albicans. Herein, we report that phytoprotein based nano scaffolds mitigates the standard antifungal drug (fluconazole) resistant C. albicans. Copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) and the phytolectin, jacalin functionalized copper sulfide nanoparticles (JCuS NPs) were evaluated against C. albicans cells. The minimum inhibitory concentration of JCuS NPs (0.1 µM) was tenfold lower than CuS NPs (1 µM). Kill curve assay showed that the NPs exhibit anticandidal activity in a time dependent manner. Standard antifungal drugs like Amphotericin B (AMP B) and Micafungin (MF) were evaluated individually against VVC causing Candida sp. and also combined with NPs to determine their synergistic effect. Interestingly, MF which belongs to echinocandins group of antifungals exhibhited synergistic activity and AMP B which belongs to polyenes group displayed an additive effect. Molecular level studies revealed that JCuS NPs in combination with micafungin inhibits the drug resistant efflux pump of C. albicans by down-regulating the efflux genes. The results revealed that JCuS NPs and its combination with standard drugs have a better anti-candidal effect, suggesting that the lectins has the potential to serve as a drug carrier by targeting the cell surface glycans of Candida.