Abstract
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been proposed as an alternative method for oral candidiasis (OC), while nanocarriers have been used to improve the water solubility of curcumin (CUR). The aim of this study is to encapsulate CUR in polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and to evaluate its photodynamic effects on a murine model of OC. Anionic and cationic CUR-NP is synthesized using poly-lactic acid and dextran sulfate and then characterized. Female mice are immunosuppressed and inoculated with Candida albicans (Ca) to induce OC. aPDT is performed by applying CUR-NP or free CUR on the dorsum of the tongue, followed by blue light irradiation for five consecutive days. Nystatin is used as positive control. Afterward, Ca are recovered and cultivated. Animals are euthanized for histological, immunohistochemical, and DNA damage evaluation. Encapsulation in NP improves the water solubility of CUR. Nystatin shows the highest reduction of Ca, followed by aPDT mediated by free CUR, which results in immunolabelling of cytokeratins closer to those observed for healthy animals. Anionic CUR-NP does not show antifungal effect, and cationic CUR-NP reduces Ca even in the absence of light. DNA damage is associated with Ca infection. Consecutive aPDT application is a safe treatment for OC.
Highlights
Candida albicans is an opportunist pathogen found in human mucosa that, under local or systemic conditions, might invade tissues and promote infection
oral candidiasis (OC) is a common condition found in immunocompromised patients, especially those infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and subjects under treatment with immunosuppressant agents, such as transplanted patients and those under chemotherapy [2]
Theaggregation highest CURofconcentration encapsulated in NPs was 260 μM, higher concentrations resulted in CUR
Summary
Candida albicans is an opportunist pathogen found in human mucosa that, under local or systemic conditions, might invade tissues and promote infection. OC is a common condition found in immunocompromised patients, especially those infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and subjects under treatment with immunosuppressant agents, such as transplanted patients and those under chemotherapy [2]. Regarding those patients, the infection might spread from its original site and reach the bloodstream, causing a systemic infection known as candidaemia. OC is characterized by invasion of the hosts mucosal epithelium by the filamentous form (hyphae) of C. albicans [4]. Regardless of the mechanism, invasion results in damage of the epithelium via necrosis and/or apoptosis [5]. To resist the external mechanical stress, the cytoplasm of epithelial cells has filaments of Molecules 2018, 23, 2075; doi:10.3390/molecules23082075 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
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