Efficacy of antifungal PACT in an in vitro model of onychomycosis. (24th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mehra, T.; Schaller, M.; Walker, B.; Braunsdorf, C.; Mailänder‐Sanchez, D.; Schynowski, F.; Hahn, R.; Röcken, M.; Köberle, M.; Borelli, C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Volume 29:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2014-03-24
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12467
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0926-9959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jdv12467-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jdv12467-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The difficulty of antifungal substances to penetrate keratin and slow nail growth limit the efficacy of topical therapy in onychomycosis. One promising alternative is photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy, or PACT: an irradiated photosensitizer creates singlet oxygen molecules which destroy pathogens without damaging human cells.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12467-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>As PACT has demonstrated strong antifungal capabilities, we wanted to investigate its efficacy in an <italic>in vitro</italic> model of onychomycosis.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12467-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>PACT was tested in a microdilution assay, in an <italic>in vitro</italic> onychomycosis model as well as in a patient.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12467-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>PACT inhibited fungal growth in the microdilution assay with no colonies of <italic>T. rubrum</italic> detectable. Fungal growth was also inhibited in an onychomycosis model, after 30 min of LED irradiation. Subsequently, a patient with distolateral onychomycosis was treated on three consecutive days and showed significant and durable improvement of nail morphology 6 months after.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12467-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>PACT appears to be an effective treatment of onychomycosis <italic>in vitro</italic>. The promising results need to be validated by clinical trials.</p> <p> </p> </sec> </abstract>