Synergism of Zinc Oxide Quantum Dots with Antifungal Drugs: Potential Approach for Combination Therapy against Drug Resistant Candida albicans

Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans is one of the most common microbial infections. Azoles, polyenes, allylamines, and echinocandins are classes antifungals used for treating Standard drug doses often become ineffective due to emergence multidrug resistance (MDR). This leads use higher prolonged duration, resulting in severe toxicity (nephrotoxicity liver damage) humans. However, combination therapy using very low concentrations two or more antifungal agents together, can lower such limit evolution resistance. Herein, 4–6 nm zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) were synthesized their vitro activities assessed against drug-susceptible (G1, F1, GU4) resistant (G5, F5, GU5) isolates C. . In broth microdilution assay, ZnO QDs exhibited dose dependent growth inhibition between 0 – 200 µg/ml almost 90% was inhibited all strains at QDs. Synergy drugs sub-inhibitory each checkerboard analysis expressed terms fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. with different (azoles polyenes) isolates: 1 (with fluconazole); 2 ketoconazole); 3 amphotericin B), 4 nystatin). Results demonstrated that potency combinations even than individual fungal isolates. The FIC index found be less 0.5 which confirmed synergism (25 µg/ml) drugs. Synergism further spot assay where cell viabilities significantly reduced combinations, clearly evident from disappearance cells on agar plates containing combinations. For safer clinical use, cytotoxic activity HeLa line it non-toxic 25 µg/ml. suggested potentiate antimicrobial through multitargeted action. could therefore offer a versatile alternative MDR pathogens, wherein lowering reduce action