Effective control of molds using a combination of nanoparticles
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Molds are filamentous fungi able to grow on a variety of surfaces, including constructed surfaces, food, rotten organic matter, and humid places. Mold growth is characterized by having an unpleasant odor in enclosed or non-ventilated places and a non-aesthetic appearance. They represent a health concern because of their ability to produce and release mycotoxins, compounds that are toxic to animals and humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate commercial nanoparticles (NPs) that can be used as an additive in coatings and paints to effectively control the growth of harmful molds. Four different NPs were screened for their antifungal activities against the mycotoxin producing mold strains Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the NPs were determined in broth media, whereas an agar diffusion test was used to assess the antimold activity on acrylic- and water-based paints. The cytotoxic activity and the inflammatory response of the NPs were also evaluated using the established human derived macrophage cell line THP-1. Results showed that a combination of mix metallic- and ZnO-NPs (50:10 μg/mL) effectively inhibited the fungal growth when exposed to fluorescent light. Neither cytotoxic effect nor inflammatory responses were recorded, suggesting that this combination can be safely used in humid or non-ventilated environments without any health concerns. © 2017 Auyeung et al.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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gold nanoparticle; interleukin 6; metal nanoparticle; silver nanoparticle; tumor necrosis factor; zinc oxide nanoparticle; acrylic acid; acrylic acid derivative; culture medium; cytokine; fungicide; gold; nanoparticle; paint; silver; water; zinc oxide; Article; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus fumigatus; controlled study; cytotoxicity; disk diffusion; fluorescent lighting; fungus growth; growth inhibition; human; human cell; inflammation; macrophage; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus fumigatus; cell line; chemically induced; comparative study; culture medium; drug effects; fluorescence; growth, development and aging; immunology; macrophage activation; microbial sensitivity test; microbiology; particle size; radiation response; secretion (process); Acrylates; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus fumigatus; Cell Line; Culture Media; Cytokines; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; Fluorescence; Fungicides, Industrial; Gold; Humans; Inflammation; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nanoparticles; Paint; Particle Size; Silver; Water; Zinc Oxide
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