Effective inactivation of Candida albicans biofilms by using supercritical carbon dioxide

Hyong Seok Park, Jungwoo Yang, Hee Jung Choi, Kyoung Heon Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Present sterilization methods for biofilms in medical devices have limitations. Therefore, an alternative sterilization method using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was tested on Candida albicans biofilms. The effect of varying pressure, temperature, and treatment time on the inactivation of C. albicans spores in suspensions and in biofilms was examined. The parameters such as treatment time, pressure, and temperature that led to the complete inactivation of C. albicans biofilms ranged 5–20 min, 100–200 bar, and 35–45 °C, respectively. Notably, treatment of SC-CO2 at either 100 bar and 40 °C or 200 bar and 30 °C induced complete inactivation of spores within 5 min. Furthermore, it was found that wet biofilms (0.4 %, w/w) had higher sensitivity to SC-CO2 than dried biofilms. Finally, spore inactivation was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In this study, the use of a low-temperature SC-CO2 sterilization method was proven to be effective in fungal biofilm inactivation, and the moisture content of biofilms was revealed to be the key factor for biofilm inactivation.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalBioprocess and Biosystems Engineering
    Volume38
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015 Sept 1

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

    Keywords

    • Biofilm
    • Candida albicans
    • Sterilization
    • Supercritical carbon dioxide

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biotechnology
    • Bioengineering

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Effective inactivation of Candida albicans biofilms by using supercritical carbon dioxide'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this