Demonstration of antibiofilm and antifungal efficacy of chitosan against candidal biofilms, using an in vivo central venous catheter model

Mluis R. Martinez, Mircea Radu Mihu, Moses Tar, Radames J.B. Cordero, George Han, Adam J. Friedman, Joel M. Friedman, Joshua D. Nosanchuk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

Candida species are a major cause of catheter infections. Using a central venous catheter Candida albicans biofilm model, we demonstrated that chitosan, a polymer isolated from crustacean exoskeletons, inhibits candidal biofilm formation in vivo. Furthermore, chitosan statistically significantly decreased both the metabolic activity of the biofilms and the cell viability of C. albicans and Candida parapsilosis biofilms in vitro. In addition, confocal and scanning electron microscopic examination demonstrated that chitosan penetrates candidal biofilms and damages fungal cells. Importantly, the concentrations of chitosan that were used to evaluate fungal biofilm susceptibility were not toxic to human endothelial cells. Chitosan should be considered for the prevention or treatment of fungal biofilms on central venous catheters and perhaps other medical devices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1436-1440
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume201
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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