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.
Highlights
C. albicans is considered the most frequent fungal species in human microbiota and colonizes approximately 50% of healthy individuals [1]
Some studies showed that cold atmospheric plasma jet have anti-Candida activity [20, 22, 24]
Borges et al [26] showed that cold atmospheric plasma jets operating with Helium and powered with continuous sinewave voltage could disrupt C. albicans biofilm starting from 300 s exposition period
Summary
C. albicans is considered the most frequent fungal species in human microbiota and colonizes approximately 50% of healthy individuals [1]. Plasma jet and candidiasis conditions, C. albicans can express virulence features and cause infections. These conditions are host-related and are usually associated to imbalance in the anatomical barrier function or in the commensal microbiota [2]. The occurrence of infection depends on a complex interplay between fungal virulence factors and the immune system of the host [3]. Oral candidiasis is a common occurrence among HIV-positive patients [4], and it is reported as one of the first clinical manifestations of HIV infection [5]. Superficial infections can be the first step to homogeneously disseminated fungaemia [11]
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