Last update:
   02-Oct-2009
 

Arch Hellen Med, 26(4), July-August 2009, 520-522

ORIGINAL PAPER

Interaction between gold nanoparticles and Cryptococcus spp

A. SEREEMASPUN,1 V. WIWANITKIT,2 R. ROJANATHANES3
1Division of Histology and Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
2Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, Bangkok
3Sensor Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

OBJECTIVE The effects on the human cell of nanoparticles has been documented; cells in tissue culture stained for nanoparticles were observed adhering to the bottom of the wells of the tissue culture plates. There is also evidence for the binding of nanoparticles to the micro-organism cell membrane and transport inside the cell. However, the effect of nanoparticles on fungus has been little studied. Here, the authors report the interaction between gold nanoparticles and Cryptococcus spp.

METHOD A gold nanoparticle solution was mixed with clinical samples of cerebrospinal fluid with and without Cryptococcus spp, and the characteristic color change was observed.

RESULTS A protein bonding effect between gold nanoparticles and Cryptococcus spp was detected.

CONCLUSIONS According to this study, the clinical application for gold nanoparticles as a new therapeutic option for cryptococcosis can be justified.

Key words: Cryptococcus, Gold nanoparticle.

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