Evaluation of microbial inactivation caused by photodynamic therapy on Candida albicans pre-treated with fluconazole
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) is an alternative therapeutic modality in the treatment of infectious diseases, traditionally treated with drugs that eventually develop mechanisms of resistance in microorganisms. Through a photosensitizer and a light source, photodynamic therapy produces reactive oxygen species that oxidize organelles, leading to cell death. Candida albicans is a fungus that can be lethal when it develops resistance to the drug fluconazole, a compound commonly used in the fight against this microorganism. However, there are several studies that demonstrate excellent results in the treatment of infections caused by Candida albicans through photodynamic therapy using methylene blue as a photosensitizer and a light source with λ = 660nm. Currently, there is research based on the association between therapeutic modalities, with the objective of minimizing side effects in patients affected by certain diseases. This work aimed to study the changes in cellular inactivation of C. albicans when the previous administration of fluconazole and subsequent application of aPDT associated with the methylene blue photosensitizer, with the objective of studying the effects on the proliferation of this fungus through the association of these two therapies treatment of fungal infections.