Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy reduces adhesion capacity and biofilm formation of Candida albicans from induced oral candidiasis in mice

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2019 Sep:27:402-407. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2019.06.010. Epub 2019 Jul 5.

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been considered an alternative therapeutic modality for the treatment of Candida infections. However, most studies are focused mainly on microorganism's inactivation efficiency. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of aPDT mediated by chloro-aluminum phthalocyanine encapsulated in cationic nanoemulsions (ClAlP-NE) to treat oral candidiasis in vivo and its effect on the adhesion and biofilm formation of Candida albicans.

Methods: For this, mice were immunosuppressed and inoculated with C. albicans to produce oral candidiasis. aPDT and Nystatin were applied for 5 successive sessions. Next, the microbiological evaluation was determined (CFU/ml) and the analyses of virulence factors (adhesion capacity and biofilm formation) were performed. Data were analyzed by Two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05).

Results: aPDT was as effective as Nystatin reducing 1.4 and 2.0 log10 of the cell viability (p ≤ 0.0001), respectively. Both treatments reduced the adhesion capacity and biofilm formation of C. albicans (p ≤ 0.0001) CONCLUSION: : ClAlP-NE-mediated aPDT was effective in reducing the virulence factors of C. albicans and also to treat induced oral candidiasis in mice.

Keywords: Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy; Infectious disease; Phthalocyanine; Virulence factor.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Candidiasis, Oral / drug therapy*
  • Emulsions
  • Indoles / administration & dosage
  • Indoles / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles
  • Nystatin / therapeutic use
  • Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Organometallic Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Photochemotherapy / methods*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Emulsions
  • Indoles
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Nystatin
  • chloroaluminum phthalocyanine