Chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating farnesol show potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans biofilms

Abstract

Candida albicans biofilms are characterized as the main virulence factor responsible for therapeutic failure with antifungals and the development of resistant strains. Chitosan nanoparticles with farnesol (NF) may be able to penetrate biofilms due to their small size and enable the delivery of molecules to specific locations. The objective of the study was to assess the in vitro effectiveness of NF on C. albicans biofilms, as an additional study of the previously presented in vivo data. In the antifungal tests with C. albicans ATCC 10231, NF showed an IC50 of 73.25 µg/mL and inhibited biofilm formation at concentrations of up to 146.5 µg/mL. Images obtained by scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the ability of NF to inhibit the development of biofilms in vitro. In addition to their in vivo effectiveness against C. albicans infections, the produced nanoparticles could serve as a promising alternative to inhibit the formation of C. albicans biofilms on surfaces.