Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Candida albicans Biofilm Chip CaBChip for High-throughput Antifungal Drug Screening
08:05

Candida albicans Biofilm Chip CaBChip for High-throughput Antifungal Drug Screening

Published on: July 18, 2012

13.8K

A recyclable and light-triggered nanofibrous membrane against the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris

Xinyao Liu1,2,3, Chuan Guo4, Kaiwen Zhuang1,2,3

  • 1Department of Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Plos Pathogens
|May 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A new polylactic acid-hypocrellin A (PLA-HA) nanofibrous membrane effectively combats the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). This recyclable membrane shows promise for treating infections with minimal side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Candida auris is a dangerous, drug-resistant fungus causing severe infections.
  • Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising treatment, but research on C. auris is limited.
  • Novel strategies are needed to combat C. auris due to its high mortality and resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel, recyclable antimicrobial strategy against Candida auris.
  • To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of a polylactic acid-hypocrellin A (PLA-HA) nanofibrous membrane using aPDT.
  • To evaluate the biocompatibility and in vivo performance of the PLA-HA-aPDT system.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a recyclable and biodegradable polylactic acid-hypocrellin A (PLA-HA) nanofibrous membrane.
  • In vitro assessment of PLA-HA-aPDT against C. auris planktonic cells and biofilms, including repeated use efficacy.
  • In vivo evaluation of PLA-HA-aPDT on C. auris-infected wounds, assessing healing, inflammation, and toxicity.
  • Mechanistic studies involving reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis induction in C. auris.

Main Results:

  • PLA-HA-aPDT significantly reduced C. auris survival in plankton and biofilms.
  • The membrane retained significant fungicidal activity after four repeated uses.
  • In vivo studies demonstrated accelerated wound healing and reduced inflammation with no obvious toxicity.
  • PLA-HA-aPDT induced C. auris apoptosis via increased ROS, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase activation.

Conclusions:

  • The developed PLA-HA nanofibrous membrane is a recyclable and effective platform for aPDT against C. auris.
  • PLA-HA-aPDT demonstrates excellent biocompatibility, safety, and potent antifungal activity.
  • This novel approach offers a promising therapeutic candidate for C. auris skin and mucous membrane infections.

More Related Videos

Clarifying and Imaging Candida albicans Biofilms11:09

Clarifying and Imaging Candida albicans Biofilms

Published on: March 6, 2020

11.8K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging03:24

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging

Published on: March 22, 2024

1.7K

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Corrosion01:24

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...