Summary: | This study focuses on the role of photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. The photosensitizers were prepared in combinations of 110/220 µM erythrosine and/or 10/20 µM demethoxy/bisdemethoxy curcumin with/without 10% (<i>w/w</i>) nano-titanium dioxide. Irradiation was performed with a dental blue light in the 395–480 nm wavelength range, with a power density of 3200 mW/cm<sup>2</sup> and yield of 72 J/cm<sup>2</sup>. The production of ROS and hydroxyl radical was investigated using an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer for each individual photosensitizer or in photosensitizer combinations. Subsequently, a PrestoBlue<sup>®</sup> toxicity test of the gingival fibroblast cells was performed at 6 and 24 h on the eight highest ROS-generating photosensitizers containing curcumin derivatives and erythrosine 220 µM. Finally, the antifungal ability of 22 test photosensitizers, <i>Candida albicans</i> (ATCC 10231), were cultured in biofilm form at 37 °C for 48 h, then the colonies were counted in colony-forming units (CFU/mL) via the drop plate technique, and then the log reduction was calculated. The results showed that at 48 h the test photosensitizers could simultaneously produce both ROS types. All test photosensitizers demonstrated no toxicity on the fibroblast cells. In total, 18 test photosensitizers were able to inhibit <i>Candida albicans</i> similarly to nystatin. Conclusively, 20 µM bisdemethoxy curcumin + 220 µM erythrosine + 10% (<i>w/w</i>) nano-titanium dioxide exerted the highest inhibitory effect on <i>Candida albicans</i>.
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