Lactoferrin Solution as a New Natural Photosensitizer in Photodynamic Therapy Against Oral Candida spp. Multidrug-Resistant Isolates: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
2025
Cinzia Casu | Andrea Butera | Alice Piga | Andrea Scribante | Sara Fais | Germano Orrù
Serious oral infections are frequently caused by Candida species, which have lately demonstrated resistance to antifungal medications. As a result, new therapeutic strategies, like photodynamic therapy (PDT), are desperately needed. Lactoferrin (LF), a salivary enzyme, is a natural protein that binds iron and has antifungal properties. Given its chemical structure and light absorption at 310&ndash:350 nm, LF appears to be a good photosensitizer in a PDT process for treating oral candidiasis. The purpose of this work was to assess the effectiveness of lactoferrin (LF) as a photosensitizer (PS) in photodynamic treatment (PDT) against oral multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates of Candida spp. using an in vitro investigation. For this in vitro investigation, oral MDR isolates of Candida albicans, Candida kruseii, and Candida glabrata were employed. Using a Kirby&ndash:Bauer test (Eucast protocol), a solution of 20 mg of bovine lactoferrin dissolved in 1 mL of Sabouraud&rsquo:s broth was tested in four different experimental combinations: (i) the solution as it is: (ii) the solution activated with 3% H2O2: (iii) the solution activated by light at 310&ndash:350 nm: and (iv) the solution activated with both 3% H2O2 and light at 310&ndash:350 nm. A control group and one with only H2O2 were also tested. After that, the Petri plates were incubated for 48 h at 37 °:C. With inhibitory halos ranging from 30 to 40 mm for all Candida spp. MDR analyzed, group (iv) displayed the greatest results. H2O2 + lactoferrin-based solutions are thought to be potential PS in PDT for MDR Candida spp. eradication.
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