OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 10 1 (March 2020) 2020 01 29 Antimicrobial effect of chitosan–silver–copper nanocomposite on Candida albicans 10.1007/s40097-020-00331-3 EN Mohsen Ashrafi Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Specialized Sciences Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Mansour Bayat Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Specialized Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Pejman Mortazavi Department of Pathology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Seyed Jamal Hashemi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Amir Meimandipour Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, IR Journal Article 2020 01 29 Abstract Candida is a common yeast in opportunistic fungal diseases around the world and is usually colonized on the skin and mucosal membranes. The purpose of this study was to synthesize chitosan–silver–copper nanocomposite and to investigate its antifungal effects on Candida albicans . Silver, copper and chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized individually. Then, copper–silver–chitosan nanocomposite was synthesized. These nanoparticles are approved by transmission electron microscope, and nanocomposite structure was also confirmed by scanning electron microscope. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal of these nanostructures were examined on C. albicans . The results of this study indicate that the properties and effects of the investigated nanocomposite are comparable to amphotericin B as standard material. The results show that this effect was higher for copper–silver–chitosan nanocomposite than for other nanoparticles studied. Antifungal effect of copper nanoparticles and chitosan nanoparticles was not established separately, but it was found that their composition had antifungal effects that were effective. The combination of nanoparticles of chitosan with silver has been shown to have some antifungal effects. The most antifungal effect for the nanoparticles studied is related to copper–silver–chitosan nanocomposite and, which has had a significant effect on the growth of C. albicans in the laboratory environment compared to other nanoparticles. Graphic abstract