Combination of curcumin or chitosan with photodynamic therapy as an effective alternative therapy for overcoming wound infection associated with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as an opportunistic pathogen in wound infections raises significant concerns due to its antibiotic resistance and biofilm-mediated antibiotic tolerance. This underscores the urgent need to explore an alternative approach to effectively managing wound infections caused by MDR A. baumannii . In this study, combining subinhibitory concentrations of curcumin (25 µg/ml) or chitosan (156 µg/ml) with photodynamic therapy-PDT (10 J/cm 2 ) resulted in a significant reduction of planktonic viabilities and biofilm biovolume of MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates in vitro . In murine A. baumannii- associated wound infection, a combination of curcumin (25 µg/ml) or chitosan (156 µg/ml) with PDT (10 J/cm 2 ) resulted in complete bacterial eradication with wound healing at Day 15 of post-treatments with these combination therapies. Our study demonstrated that combining curcumin or chitosan with PDT at their subinhibitory concentrations represents a promising alternative strategy as localized therapy for effectively managing A. baumannii -associated wound infection. ● MDR A. baumannii in wounds shows resistance and biofilm-related tolerance. ● Sub-MIC curcumin or chitosan plus PDT reduced planktonic and biofilm growth. ● Combination therapy fully eradicated bacteria in murine wound infections by Day 15. ● PDT with curcumin or chitosan improved wound healing outcomes in vivo . ● This strategy offers a localized, effective alternative for MDR A. baumannii control.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Microbe
Published
2025-05-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2025.100375
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.56
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article

Combination of curcumin or chitosan with photodynamic therapy as an effective alternative therapy for overcoming wound infection associated with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen, Asada Leelahavanichkul, Sumanee Nilgate, Puey Ounjai et al.
3 citations
The Microbe
Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
4.56
article

Combination of curcumin or chitosan with photodynamic therapy as an effective alternative therapy for overcoming wound infection associated with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen, Asada Leelahavanichkul, Sumanee Nilgate, Puey Ounjai, Einapak Boontaveeyuwat, Mohan Amarasiri, Manta Yonpiam, Longzhu Cui, Natharin Ngamwongsatit, Talerngsak Kanjanabuch, Anthony Kicic, Parichart Hongsing, Dhammika Leshan Wannigama, Cameron Hurst, Thammakorn Saethang, Tanittha Chatsuwan, Peter N. Monk, Hiroshi Hamamoto, Vishnu Nayak Badavath, Shuichi Abe, Aye Mya Sithu Shein, Kazuhiko Miyanaga, Sukrit Srisakul, Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi, Paul G. Higgins, Ubolrat Rirerm, Tingting Liao, Sirirat Luk-in, Phurin Narkban
article en
3 citations

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as an opportunistic pathogen in wound infections raises significant concerns due to its antibiotic resistance and biofilm-mediated antibiotic tolerance. This underscores the urgent need to explore an alternative approach to effectively managing wound infections caused by MDR A. baumannii . In this study, combining subinhibitory concentrations of curcumin (25 µg/ml) or chitosan (156 µg/ml) with photodynamic therapy-PDT (10 J/cm 2 ) resulted in a significant reduction of planktonic viabilities and biofilm biovolume of MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates in vitro . In murine A. baumannii- associated wound infection, a combination of curcumin (25 µg/ml) or chitosan (156 µg/ml) with PDT (10 J/cm 2 ) resulted in complete bacterial eradication with wound healing at Day 15 of post-treatments with these combination therapies. Our study demonstrated that combining curcumin or chitosan with PDT at their subinhibitory concentrations represents a promising alternative strategy as localized therapy for effectively managing A. baumannii -associated wound infection. ● MDR A. baumannii in wounds shows resistance and biofilm-related tolerance. ● Sub-MIC curcumin or chitosan plus PDT reduced planktonic and biofilm growth. ● Combination therapy fully eradicated bacteria in murine wound infections by Day 15. ● PDT with curcumin or chitosan improved wound healing outcomes in vivo . ● This strategy offers a localized, effective alternative for MDR A. baumannii control.

The MicrobeVol. 7
Yamagata University (JP), Thai Red Cross Society (TH), Chulalongkorn University (TH), The University of Western Australia (AU), Kasetsart University (TH), Tohoku University (JP), Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (IN), Mahidol University (TH), Chulabhorn Graduate Institute (TH), King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (TH), Charles Darwin University (AU), Chulabhorn Hospital (TH), Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital (JP), University of Sheffield (GB)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
4.56
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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