Antifungal compositions and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to antifungal nanofibrous materials and the use of such materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the antifungal treatment of a surface comprising:
 (a) providing a surface exposed to a fungus or contaminated with a fungus; and   (b) applying a composition comprising an antifungal effective amount of nanofibers of cellulose acetate to the surface,   
       wherein the antifungal effective amount is an amount sufficient to inhibit growth of the fungus on the surface. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antifungal effective amount is an amount selected from the group consisting of an amount sufficient to reduce optical density at 600 nanometers (OD 600 ) of a solution of the fungus exposed to the nanofibers of cellulose acetate of the composition to less than about 75% of the OD 600  of a solution of the fungus not exposed to the nanofibers of cellulose acetate of the composition, an amount sufficient to reduce a normalized Colony Forming Unit ratio (CFU) of the fungus exposed to the nanofibers of cellulose acetate of the composition to no more than about 60% of the CFU of the fungus not exposed to the nanofibers of cellulose acetate of the composition, and an amount sufficient to reduce MTT absorbance of a solution of the fungus exposed to the nanofibers of cellulose acetate of the composition to less than about 50% of the MTT absorbance of a solution of the fungus not exposed to the nanofibers of cellulose acetate of the composition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of cellulose acetate are the only components of the composition that have the antifungal activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antifungal treatment comprises inhibiting or preventing fungal growth on the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the nanofibers are electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , herein the surface is porous, semi-porous, or non-porous. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is metal, wall board, ceiling tile, paper, textile, concrete, stone, brick, wood, plastic, ceramic, or leather. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the nanofibers are electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is a textile. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the nanofibers are electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is a garment, bedding, or a part of a shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the surface is a fibrous material and the nanofibers are electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fungus is  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  and/or  Candida albicans.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , the nanofibers of cellulose acetate have an average diameter of between about 100 nm and 1000 nm, optionally between about 300 nm and about 700 nm, further optionally between about 400 nm and about 600 nm.