ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE COMBINED APPLICATION OF PHOTOSENSITIZERS AND RED-SPECTRUM LED RADIATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-7684/2026-2-18Keywords:
opportunistic microorganisms, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, antibiotic resistance, low-intensity irradiationAbstract
Introduction. The irrational and excessive use of antibiotics in clinical practice, as well as the widespread application of antimicrobial agents beyond the medical field, contributes to the accelerated spread of antimicrobial resistance. This, in turn, necessitates the search for effective non-pharmacological approaches to combating infectious agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of photosensitizers (PS) – 0.1% aqueous solutions of azure, methylene blue, methylene green, and brilliant green – and red-spectrum light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation on the growth of opportunistic microorganisms. Materials and Methods. To determine the antimicrobial effects of combined PSs application and red-spectrum LED irradiation on microbial growth, microorganisms were divided into several groups to independently assess the effects of PSs, LED irradiation, and their combined application. The objects of study were clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5), Candida albicans (n = 5), Escherichia coli (n = 5), and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 5), as well as reference strains S. aureus ATCC 25923, C. albicans ATCC 2091, and E. coli ATCC 25922. Results and discussion. The combined effect of the PSs methylene blue and azure with red-spectrum LED irradiation led to a reduction in the growth intensity of the studied microbial strains by an average of 34.1-72.5% compared with the control groups. The degree of antimicrobial effect observed with the combined use of PSs and LED significantly exceeded that of the photosensitizers applied individually. A 0.1% aqueous solution of methylene green did not exhibit antimicrobial activity either when used alone or in combination with LED irradiation, whereas brilliant green resulted in complete inhibition of microbial growth. Conclusions. The developed aPDT method using the PSs methylene blue and azure demonstrated a significant antimicrobial effect, which was on average 17.8–52.7% higher compared with the use of the PSs alone. Considering its high efficacy and the absence of risk for the development of microbial resistance, the aPDT method may be recommended for the complex treatment of purulent-inflammatory processes caused by opportunistic microorganisms.
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