Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Research on Candida albicans Biofilm-Associated Prosthetic Joint Infections
Published on: February 2, 2024
Miconazole-splitomicin combined β-glucan hydrogel for effective prevention of Candida albicans periprosthetic joint
Menghan Wang1, Ying Yang2, Dongdong Li2
1The first Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, , PR China.
Abstract:
As one of the most common and serious infections caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans), periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) increasingly concerns surgeons and scientists. Generally, biofilms shield C. albicans from antifungal agents and immune clearance and induce drug-resistant strains. Developing novel strategies for PJI to get rid of current drug-resistant problems is highly needed. In our study, splitomicin (SP) can inhibit the mycelium formation of C. albicans and enhance the drug sensitivity of C. albicans to miconazole nitrate (MCZ). The combination of SP and MCZ significantly inhibited the viability, proliferation and adhesion of C. albicans, reduced the yeast to hyphae transition and biofilm formation. When SP and MCZ were coloaded in the β-glucan hydrogel, a viscoelastic solid with porous 3D network, sustained release and erosion properties was obtained. In the in vivo PJI mice model, SP-MCZ-β-glucan hydrogel effectively reduced the colonization and aggregation of C. albicans around the implant, reduced the pathological changes caused by C. albicans in the femur tissue. Therefore, SP-MCZ-β-glucan hydrogel holds a great promise for the management of C. albicans infection around joint prosthesis.
Insights
A novel hydrogel combining splitomicin (SP) and miconazole nitrate (MCZ) effectively combats Candida albicans periprosthetic joint infections. This treatment inhibits fungal growth and biofilm formation, offering a promising solution for drug-resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Infectious Diseases
- Materials Science
Background:
- Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a significant clinical challenge.
- Biofilms formed by C. albicans contribute to antifungal resistance and treatment failure.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for managing drug-resistant PJI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of splitomicin (SP) and miconazole nitrate (MCZ) in combination against C. albicans.
- To develop and evaluate a β-glucan hydrogel for sustained delivery of SP and MCZ for PJI treatment.
- To assess the in vivo therapeutic potential of the SP-MCZ-β-glucan hydrogel in a murine PJI model.
Main Methods:
- Assessing the synergistic effects of SP and MCZ on C. albicans viability, proliferation, and morphology.
- Incorporating SP and MCZ into a β-glucan hydrogel for controlled release.
- Evaluating the hydrogel's performance in a murine model of C. albicans-induced PJI, focusing on implant colonization and tissue pathology.
Main Results:
- SP inhibited C. albicans mycelial growth and enhanced MCZ sensitivity.
- Combined SP and MCZ significantly reduced C. albicans viability, proliferation, yeast-to-hyphae transition, and biofilm formation.
- The SP-MCZ-β-glucan hydrogel demonstrated sustained release properties and effectively reduced C. albicans colonization and femur damage in vivo.
Conclusions:
- The combination of SP and MCZ shows potent antifungal activity against C. albicans.
- SP-MCZ-β-glucan hydrogel is a promising drug delivery system for PJI management.
- This novel hydrogel therapy holds potential for overcoming drug resistance in C. albicans PJI.
