Journal: Molecules

Article Title: Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Inactivation and Eradication of Candida spp. Biofilms in Healthcare Environment: A Novel Approach in Modern Clinical Practice

doi: 10.3390/molecules30234500

Figure Lengend Snippet: Types of nanozymes by ROS modulation and POD-like nanozyme action on Candida biofilms. Nanozymes with POD- and oxidase (OXD)-like activities promote oxidative stress by catalyzing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) or oxygen (O 2 ) into highly reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide anions (O 2 • − ), while catalase (CAT)- and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like nanozymes primarily mitigate oxidative stress by decomposing excess ROS. Under light irradiation, POD-like nanomaterials additionally exhibit photocatalytic properties, enhancing ROS generation through synergistic photochemical and enzymatic processes. The resulting oxidative species penetrate the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix of Candida biofilms, leading to EPS degradation, protein and nucleic acid oxidation, and cell membrane disruption. This dual-function mechanism—combining peroxidase-like catalysis with photocatalysis—facilitates deeper ROS diffusion and more efficient eradication of fungal biofilms, offering a promising approach for the treatment of biofilm-associated Candida infections.

Article Snippet: Darbari et al. [ ] evaluated the photocatalytic antifungal activity of TiO 2 /branched CNT nanostructures against C. albicans (ATCC 10231) biofilms.

Techniques: Irradiation, Membrane, Disruption, Diffusion-based Assay