Amplitude-modulated cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet for treatment of oral candidiasis: In vivo study

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 27;13(6):e0199832. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199832. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish an effective and safe protocol for in vivo oral candidiasis treatment with atmospheric plasma jets. A novel amplitude-modulated cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet (AM-CAPPJ) device, operating with Helium, was tested. In vitro assays with Candida albicans biofilms and Vero cells were performed in order to determine the effective parameters with low cytotoxicity. After the determination of such parameters, the protocol was evaluated in experimentally induced oral candidiasis in mice. AM-CAPPJ could significantly reduce the viability of C. albicans biofilms after 5 minutes of plasma exposure when compared to the non-exposed group (p = 0.0033). After this period of exposure, high viability of Vero cells was maintained (86.33 ± 10.45%). Also, no late effects on these cells were observed after 24 and 48 hours (83.24±15.23% and 88.96±18.65%, respectively). Histological analyses revealed significantly lower occurrence of inflammatory alterations in the AM-CAPPJ group when compared to non-treated and nystatin-treated groups (p < 0.0001). Although no significant differences among the values of CFU/tongue were observed among the non-treated group and the groups treated with AM-CAPPJ or nystatin (p = 0.3201), histological analyses revealed marked reduction in candidal tissue invasion. In conclusion, these results point out to a clinical applicability of this protocol, due to the simultaneous anti-inflammatory and inhibitory effects of AM-CAPPJ with low cytotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Atmospheric Pressure
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / physiology
  • Candidiasis, Oral / drug therapy*
  • Candidiasis, Oral / microbiology
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Drug Delivery Systems / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Helium / administration & dosage
  • Helium / pharmacology
  • Helium / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Plasma Gases / administration & dosage
  • Plasma Gases / pharmacology
  • Plasma Gases / therapeutic use*
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Plasma Gases
  • Helium

Grants and funding

Funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP); www.fapesp.br: Grants #2016/07196-6 (CYKI); #2015/21989-6 (KGK) and PhD. fellowship #2014/02354-7 (ACB). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.