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    Toxicity Assessment and Antifungal Potential of Copper(II) and Silver(I) Complexes with 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans


    Giovanini, Lucas, Casemiro, Ana Lucia, Corrêa, Larissa S., Mendes, Matheus, Mello, Thaís P., Souza, Lucieri O. P., Wagner, Luis Gabriel, Fernandes, Christiane, Pereira, Matheus M., de Souza, Lais C. S. V., Baptista, Andrea R. S., de Moraes, Josué, McCann, Malachy, Branquinha, Marta H. and Santos, André L. S. (2025) Toxicity Assessment and Antifungal Potential of Copper(II) and Silver(I) Complexes with 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans. Journal of Fungi, 11 (6). p. 436. ISSN 2309-608X

    Abstract

    The World Health Organization included Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in its priority fungal pathogen list due to their high mortality rates and frequent treatment failures. These facts have driven research toward the discovery of new compounds for the treatment of cryptococcosis. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of two complexes, [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2·4H2O (Cu-phendione) and [Ag(phendione)2]ClO4 (Ag-phendione), against drug-resistant clinical isolates of C. gattii and C. neoformans. Both complexes demonstrated anti-Cryptococcus activity, with Cu-phendione exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 6.25 μM for C. gattii and 3.125 μM for C. neoformans, while Ag-phendione showed an MIC of 1.56 μM for both Cryptococcus species. Notably, both Cu-phendione and Ag-phendione complexes exhibited enhanced antifungal activity against reference strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii. In silico analysis identified both complexes as highly promising, exhibiting good oral bioavailability, high gastrointestinal absorption, and moderate skin permeability. Moreover, neither complex demonstrated toxicity toward sheep erythrocytes at concentrations up to 62.5 μM, with a selectivity index (SI) exceeding 10 for Cu-phendione and 40 for Ag-phendione. In vivo testing using the Galleria mellonella model demonstrated that both complexes were non-toxic, with 100% larval survival at concentrations up to 1000 μM and SI exceeding 160 following a single administration. Interestingly, larvae exposed to Cu-phendione at concentrations of 15.6–31.25 μM exhibited a significant increase in the density of hemocytes, the immune cells responsible for defense in invertebrates. Furthermore, multiple treatments with 62.5 μM of complexes caused either no larval mortality, hemocyte alterations, or changes in silk production or coloration, indicating a lack of toxicity. These findings suggest that Cu-phendione and Ag-phendione may serve as promising antifungal alternatives against Cryptococcus, with minimal host toxicity.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: coordination compounds; phendione; Cryptococcus; Galleria mellonella; antifungal; toxicity;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Chemistry
    Item ID: 21382
    Identification Number: 10.3390/jof11060436
    Depositing User: Dr. Malachy McCann
    Date Deposited: 31 Mar 2026 15:49
    Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Fungi
    Publisher: MDPI
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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