Photodynamic activity of curcumin against Candida biofilms on toothbrushes

Oral hygiene is necessary for maintaining human health, and regular brushing is recommended to control oral microbial biofilm. Toothbrushes are manufactured free of microorganisms, but after the first use they become contaminated and can represent a potential source of cross-contamination. Regular replacement or decontamination of toothbrushes is recommended. In this context, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a technology based on the production of reactive oxygen species, when light-absorbing compounds (photosensitizers) react with light and oxygen. The products of these reactions have antimicrobial activity and are used in dentistry to control microbial biofilms. Take into account, this study evaluated the activity of curcumin photoactivated with 450nm LED light against Candida krusei Ck7 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 biofilms adhered to toothbrushes. Curcumin without photoactivation reduced the number of viable cells by 77.5% and 91.73%, respectively. Photoactivated curcumin reduced the biofilm of C. krusei Ck7 by 97.94% and C. albicans by 98.8%. Therefore, photoactivated curcumin provided a powerful reduction in the number of viable yeasts associated with the biofilm and may represent a promising complementary technique to conventional antimicrobial agents.