Antimicrobial effect of chitosan silver copper nanocomposite on Candida albicans in immunosuppressive rats

Candida albicans is a common yeast in opportunistic fungal diseases world wide, which is frequently colonized on the surface of the skin and mucous membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of all nanocomposite copper-silver-chitosan on the mentioned yeast. To synthesis of the nanocomposite, first the chitosan was dissolved in water using ultrasonic device, the binding of chitosan and glutaraldehyde was determined by FT-IR technique and the size and morphology of the synthesized nanocomposite were determined by SEM microscopy. In the animal study section, 43 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 gin 5 groups of 7 were examined. The immune system of mice was weakened by 30 mg/kg cyclophosphamide injection through peritoneal injection and was given candidiasis by oral inoculation of candida suspension. After treatment with the nanocomposite and nystatin, it was found that the number of inflammatory cells in other groups was higher than the group treated with nystatin. Also, the number of cells in nanocomposite coper- silver- chitosan- treated group was much lower than in the other group of mice with weakened immune system and untreated candidiasis. The findings of the present study showed that the therapeutic effect of the nanocomposite against candidiasis was relatively high and had a positive effect on reducing inflammation. Although the anti-yeast effect of copper and chitosan nanoparticles have not been proven separately, but based on the current results, it was found that their combination has a slight synergistic effect and to some extent, slightly effective in their antifungal properties.