In vitro evaluation of carboxymethylcellulose effectiveness in releasing Candida albicans from skin strips

Development of more effective products for cleansing the skin of microorganisms is enhanced by improved understanding of the mechanisms of attachment, as well as potential removal strategies. This paper describes an in vitro method for use of the cationic exchanger carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to enhance the removal of the yeast Candida albicans as measured in vitro using human skin tape strippings. Several negatively charged and cationic exchanger compounds were evaluated using a visual release method to determine their ability to prompt release of C. albicans from human skin strips. CMC was further tested using a viable count method to assess its ability to effectively release the yeast from skin strips and to evaluate the effects of pH on CMC performance. CMC microparticles were found to release greater than 95% of bound C. albicans from the skin strips over a broad range of pH values. Interaction of CMC with the overall skin charge appears to result in detachment of C. albicans, a response suggesting that anionic particles may facilitate C. albicans removal from skin.