Enhancing Antifungal Treatment of with Hypericin-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Hydrogels: Characterization, In Vitro, and In Vivo Photodynamic Evaluation.

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a worldwide public health problem caused predominantly by the opportunistic polymorphic fungus , whose pathogenicity is associated with its morphological adaptability. To potentiate the treatment of -induced VVC by an alternative method as photodynamic therapy (PDT), hypericin (Hy), a potent photosensitizer compound was incorporated into a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) and dispersed in hydrogel (HG).

Methods: After preparation of the sonication process, an NLC loaded with Hy was dispersed in HG based on Poloxamer 407 and chitosan obtaining Hy.

Antimicrobial sonodynamic and photodynamic therapies against Candida albicans.

Candida albicans biofilms exhibit unique characteristics and are highly resistant to antifungal agents. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an alternative treatment limited to treating superficial infections due to the poor light penetration. In this manuscript, the antifungal properties of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) were assessed.