Sodium Tripolyphosphate: an excipient with intrinsic in vitro anti-Candida activity

Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) is a food additive that is being used in the development of micro and nanoparticles as it induces ionic interactions with chitosan molecules. Although the ability of STPP to inhibit the growth of several food contaminants has been reported, studies on its activity against clinical isolates are scarce. Candida spp. are common causative agents of mucocutaneous infections including the vulvovaginal tegument and new therapeutic approaches are needed in order to treat resistant and recurrent cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro both antifungal (anti-Candida spp.) activity, and cytotoxicity, on human dermal fibroblasts, of STPP solutions. STPP showed an inhibitory species-dependent activity against several Candida spp. strains being particularly active on C. glabrata, followed by C. guilliermondii. In vitro, STPP showed a concentration dependent cytotoxicity. Therefore STPP use, in low concentrations, seems to be interesting in the development of drug delivery systems for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidosis.