Eradication of <i>Candida albicans</i> Biofilm Viability: In Vitro Combination Therapy of Cationic Carbosilane Dendrons Derived from 4-Phenylbutyric Acid with AgNO₃ and EDTA

• Main Authors: Natalia Gómez-Casanova, Tania Lozano-Cruz, Juan Soliveri, Rafael Gomez, Paula Ortega, José Luis Copa-Patiño, Irene Heredero-Bermejo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Journal of Fungi
• Subjects: <i>Candida albicans</i>; carbosilane dendron; silver nitrate; EDTA; biofilm; synergy
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/7/574

<i>Candida albicans</i> is a human pathogen of significant clinical relevance. This pathogen is resistant to different drugs, and most clinical antifungals are not effective against the prevention and treatment of <i>C. albicans</i> infections. As with other microorganisms, it can produce biofilms that serve as a barrier against antifungal agents and other substances, contributing to infection in humans and environmental tolerance of this microorganism. Thus, resistances and biofilm formation make treatment difficult. In addition, the complete eradication of biofilms in implants, catheters and other medical devices, is challenging and necessary to prevent relapses of candidemia. Therefore, it is a priority to find new molecules or combinations of compounds with anti-<i>Candida</i> biofilm activity. Due to the difficulty of treating and removing biofilms, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ability of different generation of cationic carbosilane dendrons derived from 4-phenylbutyric acid, ArCO₂G_n(SNMe₃I)_m, to eradicate <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms. Here, we assessed the antifungal activity of the second generation dendron ArCO2G₂(SNMe₃I)₄ against <i>C. albicans</i> cells and established biofilms since it managed to seriously damage the membrane. In addition, the combinations of the second generation dendron with AgNO₃ or EDTA eradicated the viability of biofilm cells. Alterations were observed by scanning electron microscopy and cytotoxicity was assessed on HeLa cells. Our data suggest that the dendritic compound ArCO₂G₂(SNMe₃I)₄ could represent an alternative to control the infections caused by this pathogen.