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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
A Soluble Tetrazolium-Based Reduction Assay to Evaluate the Effect of Antibodies on Candida tropicalis Biofilms
Published on: September 16, 2022
In vitro damage of Candida albicans biofilms by chitosan
Yu Pu1, Aibo Liu1, Yuqiang Zheng2
1Department of Pathogenic Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
Abstract:
With the increasing usage of indwelling medical devices in clinical practice, the frequency of fungal infections has increased, such as that of Candida albicans (C. albicans). Biofilms, a protected niche for microorganisms, are resistant to a range of current antifungal agents. Chitosan is a polyatomic biopolymer with advantageous biocompatibility, biodegradation, nontoxicity and antibacterial properties. To investigate the inhibitory effect of chitosan on biofilms formed by C. albicans, cell viability, 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-caboxanilide reduction, and morphological assays, including fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were employed. As assessed by cell viability assay, chitosan showed significant inhibitory effects on the planktonic cells and the biofilm of C. albicans in a dose-dependent manner. Fluorescence microscopy and SEM assays confirmed that the chitosan-treated group showed delayed C. albicans biofilm formation with defect morphological features, due to the inhibitory effects of the vast majority of fungal cell growth. In conclusion, C. albicans biofilms were compromised by the treatment with chitosan, providing an alternative therapeutic strategy against the fungal biofilms in the medical devices.
Insights
Chitosan effectively inhibits Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm formation and growth. This study demonstrates chitosan
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Mycology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Rising use of medical devices correlates with increased fungal infections, notably Candida albicans (C. albicans).
- Microbial biofilms on medical devices are notoriously resistant to conventional antifungal treatments.
- Chitosan, a biopolymer, offers biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of chitosan in inhibiting the formation and development of C. albicans biofilms.
- To assess chitosan's impact on C. albicans planktonic cells and established biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Cell viability assays were performed to quantify fungal growth.
- Spectrophotometric assays (MTT assay) measured metabolic activity.
- Fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) visualized biofilm morphology and structure.
Main Results:
- Chitosan demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of both planktonic C. albicans cells and biofilm formation.
- Microscopy revealed delayed biofilm development and morphological defects in chitosan-treated groups.
- Significant reduction in fungal cell viability was observed with chitosan treatment.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan effectively compromises Candida albicans biofilms.
- Chitosan presents a promising therapeutic strategy for combating fungal biofilms on medical devices.
- Further research into chitosan-based treatments for medical device-associated fungal infections is warranted.
