Nanoparticles in the battle against Candida auris biofilms: current advances and future prospects

Abstract

Candida auris has emerged as a significant global health threat due to its multidrug resistance and ability to form robust biofilms, particularly on medical devices and hospital surfaces. Biofilms protect C. auris from antifungal treatments and the host immune response, making infections persistent and difficult to control. This review explores the potential of nanoparticles to overcome the limitations of traditional antifungal therapies in combating C. auris biofilms. Nanoparticles, with their unique physicochemical properties, offer promising strategies to penetrate biofilm matrices, deliver antifungal agents, and disrupt biofilm structure. Various types of nanoparticles, including metallic, polymeric, lipid-based, and cyclodextrin-based, demonstrate enhanced biofilm penetration and antifungal activity. Their ability to generate reactive oxygen species, disrupt cell adhesion, and release antifungals in a controlled manner makes them ideal candidates for biofilm-targeted therapies. This review presents the current advancements in nanoparticle-based solutions, emphasizing the need for further research into their mechanisms of action, safety, and clinical application. By addressing the challenge of C. auris biofilms specifically, this review provides a critical synthesis of existing knowledge and identifies future directions for developing effective antifungal therapies using nanotechnology.

Keywords: Antifungal therapy; Biofilm; Multidrug resistance; Nanoparticles.

Fig. 1

Mechanism of nanoparticles against C. auris biofilm. (A) Nanoparticles enhance antifungal penetration, (B) Nanoparticles disrupt C. auris biofilm structure by direct interacting with the biofilm matrix, (C) Nanoparticles release intracellular ROS, (D) Nanoparticles prevent C. auris adhesion and consequently biofilm formation

Fig. 2

Challenges and considerations in using nanoparticles against Candida auris biofilms

Fig. 3

Future prospective for the nanoparticles application against C. auris biofilm. (A) nanoparticles functionalizing them with ligand target mannoprotein, (B) pH-responsive nanoparticles that release antifungal drug in the acidic environment of the C. auris biofilm, (C) nanoparticles that co-deliver multiple antifungal drugs, (D) lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles, (E) nanoparticles modulate immune activity against C. auris biofilm