Purpose: To investigate the synergistic effect of bovine cateslytin-loaded nanoparticles (bCAT-NPs) combined with ultrasound against Candida albicans biofilm and uncover the underlying mechanism. Methods: bCAT-NPs were prepared by the double emulsion method, and toxicity was observed by the hemolysis ratio. The metabolic activity and viable cell biomass, morphology and membrane permeability of C. albicans biofilm were observed. The expression of ALS3 mRNA, the content of reactive oxygen species, was detected. Finally, bCAT structure was analyzed. Results & conclusion: The hemolysis ratio of the bCAT-NPs group was significantly lower than that of the bCAT group. bCAT-NPs combined with ultrasound significantly reduced biofilm metabolic activity, inhibited the formation of hyphae, decreased the expression of ALS3 mRNA and increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species content. In the in vivo experiments, the colony-forming units/ml in the ultrasound+bCAT-NPs group decreased, and a few planktonic fungal cells were observed.
Keywords: Candida albicans; antibacterial polypeptide; biofilm; cateslytin; low-frequency ultrasound; nanoparticles.