Photoinactivation of microorganisms using bacteriochlorins as photosensitizers

Braz J Microbiol. 2024 Jun;55(2):1139-1150. doi: 10.1007/s42770-024-01278-1. Epub 2024 Feb 20.

Abstract

In recent years, some microorganisms have shown resistance to conventional treatments. Considering this increase in resistant pathogens, treatment alternatives are needed to promote greater treatment efficiency. In this sense, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been an alternative treatment. This technique uses a photosensitizer that is activated by light with a specific wavelength producing reactive species, leading to the death of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, bacteriochlorophyll derivatives such as bacteriochlorin metoxi (Bchl-M) and bacteriochlorin trizma (Bchl-T) obtained from purple bacterium (Rhodopseudomonas faecalis), were evaluated as photosensitizers in the aPDT. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated with both bacteriochlorins (Bchl-M and Bchl-T) at different concentrations (1, 15 and 30 µM for S. aureus; 1, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 µM for M. luteus; 30, 60, 90, 105, 120 and 150 µM for C. albicans; and 200 µM for P. aeruginosa) and different doses of light (20 and 30 J/cm2 for S. aureus and M. luteus; 30 and 45 J/cm2 for C. albicans; and 45 J/cm2 for P. aeruginosa) to inactivate them. Both photosensitizers showed good activation against S. aureus and for M. luteus, we observed the inactivation of these microorganisms at approximately 3 log, showing to be a good photosensitizers for these microorganisms.

Keywords: Bacteriochlorin; Bacteriochlorophyll; Photodynamic therapy; Photoinactivation; Photosensitizer.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / radiation effects
  • Candida albicans* / drug effects
  • Candida albicans* / radiation effects
  • Light*
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Microbial Viability / radiation effects
  • Micrococcus luteus / drug effects
  • Micrococcus luteus / radiation effects
  • Photochemotherapy* / methods
  • Photosensitizing Agents* / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents* / pharmacology
  • Porphyrins / chemistry
  • Porphyrins / pharmacology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa* / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa* / radiation effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus* / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus* / radiation effects

Substances

  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • bacteriochlorin
  • Porphyrins