Chitosan enhances the antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation mediated by Photoditazine® against Streptococcus mutans

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy 2020-12, Vol.32, p.102001-102001, Article 102001
• Main Authors: de Souza, Cheyenne Marçal, Garcia, Maíra Terra, de Barros, Patrícia Pimentel, Pedroso, Lara Luise Castro, Ward, Rafael Araújo da Costa, Strixino, Juliana Ferreira, Melo, Vânia Maria Maciel, Junqueira, Juliana Campos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents; Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation; Biofilms; Chitosan; Dental Caries - drug therapy; Humans; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photoditazine; Photosensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Streptococcus mutans
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.102001

•Chitosan enhanced the antimicrobial effects of Photoditazine®-mediated aPDI on S. mutans growth.•S. mutans biofilms were reduced by 4.6 logs in treatments using chitosan with aPDI.•Chitosan increased the absorption of Photoditazine® by S. mutans cells. Chitosan (CS), a biopolymer with intrinsic antimicrobial activity, can increase antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of CS to potentiate the efficacy of Photoditazine® (PDZ)-mediated aPDI of the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans. CS effectively augmented the effects of aPDI, with reductions of approximately 4.5 logs in both planktonic and biofilm states. The combined treatment was also capable of reducing the number of S. mutans cells and amount of extracellular matrix in biofilms formed on enamel surfaces, which were characterized using scanning electron microscopy analysis. Furthermore, CS increased the absorption of PDZ by S. mutans cells. The combination of CS with PDZ-mediated aPDI is hence a promising antimicrobial approach against S. mutans and may be useful to control dental caries.