Nanoparticle-enabled antifungal agents: Design, synthesis and docking studies of functionalized Lactose derivatives

Drug resistance to well-established antifungals, such as azole derivatives (Bifonazole, Fluconazole, Miconazole, and Clotrimazole), is the primary cause of the global increase in fungal infection-related mortality. Discovering new compounds that differ structurally from these might be a helpful strategy to overcome the current drug resistance. We reported a series of compounds with benzothiazole, S-benzyl-2,4-isodithiobiuret, and thiourea derivatives of 1-Hepta-O-Benzoyl-β-D-Laltose NPs and their antifungal activity against the most infectious fungal strain Candida albicans in an attempt to create powerful non-resistance antifungal agents. Several of the synthesised compounds' analogues have demonstrated strong antifungal properties. The anticandidal activity of each synthesised molecule was evaluated in vitro. Nearly all of the compounds were shown to be more effective against the strain of Candida albicans than most of the well-known antifungal medications (MIC ¼ 0.25–1.225 mg mL-1). Furthermore, the produced substance exhibits strong antibacterial activity against the cutaneous infectious strain of S. epidermidis (MIC ¼ 0.0078 mg mL-1). To understand how the active chemicals work against the potential target protein 1EA1 of Candida albicans, an in silico molecular docking research was also conducted.