Influence of Incubation Time on Ortho-Toluidine Blue Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Directed against Selected Candida Strains—An In Vitro Study

Abstract

(1) Background and the aim: The appropriate incubation time in the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy protocol seems to have a huge impact on the efficacy of this process. This is particularly important in relation to <i>Candida</i> strains, due to the size of these cells and the presence of the cell wall. The aims of this study were to determine the optimal incubation time needed for the absorption of toluidine blue by cells of <i>C. albicans</i>, <i>C. glabrata</i>, <i>C. krusei</i> and <i>C. parapsilosis</i> using direct observation by optical microscopy, and to evaluate the efficacy of TBO-mediated aPDT on planktonic cells of these strains. (2) Methods: The microscopic evaluation consisted of taking a series of images at a magnification of 600× and counting the % of stained cells. The in vitro effect of TBO-mediated aPDT combined with a diode laser (635 nm, 400mW, 12 J/cm², CW) on the viability of yeast cells with different incubation times was evaluated. (3) Results: The presence of TBO within the cytoplasm was observed in all tested <i>Candida</i> strains and at all microscopic evaluation times. However, the highest percentages of cells were stained at 7 and 10 min. The highest % reduction of CFU/mL after TBO-mediated aPDT against <i>Candida</i> was obtained for the strain <i>C. albicans</i> ATCC 10,231 and it was 78.55%. (4) Conclusions: TBO-mediated aPDT against <i>Candida</i> was effective in reducing the number of CFU/mL at all assessed incubation times. However, the most efficient period for almost all strains was 7-10 min.