Pathogenic yeasts have become a major concern in medical mycology due to their opportunistic nature, increasing prevalence, and rising resistance to conventional antifungal agents. Infections caused by Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon, and Malassezia species lead to high morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The therapeutic limitations of azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, together with multidrug-resistant strains such as Candida auris, highlight the need for novel antifungal strategies. Nanotechnology offers an innovative solution, particularly through the green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant-derived extracts. Phytochemicals, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, act as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, enabling sustainable production of biocompatible nanoparticles. These biogenic nanomaterials exhibit antifungal activity via multiple mechanisms: disrupting cell wall and membrane integrity, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibiting quorum sensing and biofilm formation. Silver and iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized from plant sources demonstrate strong antifungal efficacy, while polymer-based or phenolic-coated systems improve stability and controlled release. Despite promising in vitro outcomes, challenges persist regarding synthesis standardization, large-scale production, toxicity, and regulatory approval. This chapter highlights plant-derived nanoparticles as sustainable antifungal candidates against pathogenic yeasts, addressing resistance and advancing future biomedical applications.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Underutilized Plant-Derived Nanoparticles Against Pathogenic Yeast

  • Gözde Koşarsoy Ağçeli,
  • Lara Akay,
  • Sıla Hoşoğlu

摘要

Pathogenic yeasts have become a major concern in medical mycology due to their opportunistic nature, increasing prevalence, and rising resistance to conventional antifungal agents. Infections caused by Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon, and Malassezia species lead to high morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The therapeutic limitations of azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, together with multidrug-resistant strains such as Candida auris, highlight the need for novel antifungal strategies. Nanotechnology offers an innovative solution, particularly through the green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant-derived extracts. Phytochemicals, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, act as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, enabling sustainable production of biocompatible nanoparticles. These biogenic nanomaterials exhibit antifungal activity via multiple mechanisms: disrupting cell wall and membrane integrity, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibiting quorum sensing and biofilm formation. Silver and iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized from plant sources demonstrate strong antifungal efficacy, while polymer-based or phenolic-coated systems improve stability and controlled release. Despite promising in vitro outcomes, challenges persist regarding synthesis standardization, large-scale production, toxicity, and regulatory approval. This chapter highlights plant-derived nanoparticles as sustainable antifungal candidates against pathogenic yeasts, addressing resistance and advancing future biomedical applications.