Evaluation of the effects of surfactants on photodynamic inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli mediated by curcumin

• Grant number: 20/11863-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal researcher: Clovis Wesley Oliveira de Souza
• Grantee: Rafaela Lima Godoy
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07276-1 - CEPOF - Optics and Photonic Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Over the years, there has been a growth of bacteria that have acquired resistance to antibiotics widely used for treatments in the clinical and agricultural areas, thus becoming a major obstacle to public health. Therefore, photodynamic inactivation (IFD), especially with curcumin, has been considered and evaluated as an alternative method for combating microorganisms. The procedure consists of irradiating visible light to a sample treated with a photosensitizer, generating reactive oxygen species that promote cell death. However, some species still have less susceptibility to treatment, such as gram-negative bacteria. Thus, a way to enhance its antimicrobial action, both for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, would be through surfactants, which allow greater permeability of the bacterial cell wall. Hence, there is a higher concentration of photosensitizer in contact with the microorganism, increasing the results of IFD. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effects of several surfactants when associated with photodynamic inactivation mediated curcumin in a sample of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.