Real-time monitoring of Candida albicans biofilm growth and 4-HPA-mediated inhibition using an optoelectrochemical platform

The opportunistic fungus Candida albicans has become the major cause of hospital-acquired infections due to its ability to develop biofilms that resistance to treatments. his study monitored the real-time growth and inhibition of C. albicans hyphal and biofilm formation using optoelectrochemical approaches, focusing on Secreted Aspartyl Protease 5 (SAP5), a key virulence factor. The natural phenolic compound 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPA) was computationally screened and demonstrated strong binding affinity to SAP5. In vitro studies indicated a minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of 4 mg/mL and a minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of 16 mg/mL. The 4-HPA exhibited considerable potential as an anti-hyphal and anti-biofilm agent, achieving efficacy > 90% in the Biofilm Infection Simulator System (BISS) platform. Likewise, in microfluidic platform, electrochemical analysis revealed 85–90% biofilm inhibition & reduction on MBIC & MBEC doses, respectively. The correlation of microscopic images with electrochemical data revealed complementarity, introducing a novel approach for monitoring microbial biofilms. This study introduces a novel approach to monitoring and treating biofilms, offering promising insights for anti-biofilm drug development.

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