title: In vitro photodynamic inactivation of Candida albicans by phenothiazine dye (new methylene blue) and Indocyanine green (EmunDo®).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of a new generation of photosensitizers to increase the efficacy of antifungal photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an important aspect of PDT. Thus, this in vitro study is aimed to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of the photo-elimination of Candida albicans with photothermal and antifungal photodynamic therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  aPDT with new methylene blue and photothermal therapy with EmunDo® were applied to a fungal suspension, which was then subcultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). The C. albicans colonies were counted and are expressed as colony-forming unit per milliliter (CFU/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  aPDT with either EmunDo® or new methylene blue (NMB) considerably diminished the viability of inoculated C. albicans (P<0.001) by log reduction of 1.9 and 3.37, respectively, compared with the control group respectively, compared with the control group. The antifungal potency or dark toxicity of the two photosensitizers alone did not significantly differ (P=0.70). The same trend was observed for the light sources (λ: 810nm vs. λ: 630nm), which also did not significantly differ (P=0.78).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The photo-elimination of C. albicans with either new methylene blue or EmunDo® as a photosensitizer can reduce the viability of fungal cells. Although the result of this study is encouraging, further investigations are warranted to determine clear protocols for the reliable and safe application of this method in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Laser Research Center in Medical Sciences, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Periodontics, Dental Faculty, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fekrazad
authors.affiliation: Laser Research Center in Medical Sciences, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Periodontics, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. Electronic address: barghi.v@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vadood
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghasemi Barghi
authors.affiliation: Dental Materials Research Center, Dentistry School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poorsattar Bejeh Mir
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shams-Ghahfarokhi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D010640:Phenothiazines; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C031637:phenothiazine; D007208:Indocyanine Green
keywords: Antifungal photodynamic therapy; Photothermal therapy, Candida albicans