Synergistic antifungal effect of fungicide and chitosan-silver nanoparticles on Neoscytalidium dimidiatum

Abstract

Chitosan-silver nanoparticles (Ag@CS) as a novel drug delivery system have been developed for fungicide drug. In this study, the synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), chitosan (CS), and fungicide zineb (Zi) was investigated as antifungal materials against Neoscytalidium dimidiatum in dragon fruit. More specifically, Ag@CS were prepared by embedding of AgNPs in CS polymer and then combined with Zi. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the morphology and size of Ag@CS. The diameter of spherical nanoparticles is around 4.11±0.37 nm. Furthermore, the formation of Ag@CS was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analysis. The thermostability properties of these nanoparticles were also determined by thermogravimetric analysis. Especially the antifungal activity of Ag@CS has shown antifungal ability better than each component alone, analyzed by zone of inhibition method against N. dimidiatum. These results suggest the potential applications of Ag@CS in the development of nanomaterials for antibiotic application.

Keywords

• antifungal activity
• chitosan
• fungicide
• neoscytalidium dimidiatum
• silver nanoparticle