A Novel Water-Soluble Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Inactivation of
Gram-Positive Bacteria
Abstract
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a promising alternative to
traditional antibiotics for bacterial infections, which inactivates a
broad spectrum of bacteria. However, it has some disadvantages including
poor water solubility and easy aggregation of hydrophobic
photosensitizers (PS), and poor tissue penetration and cytotoxicity when
using UV as light source, leading to photodynamic therapy efficacy.
Herein, we develop a novel water-soluble natural PS (sorbicillinoids)
obtained by microbial fermentation using filamentous fungus Trichoderma
reesei (T. reesei). Sorbicillinoids could effectively generate singlet
oxygen (1O2) under UV light irradiation, and ultimately display
photoinactivation activity on Gram-positive bacteria, but not
Gram-negative ones. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) treated with
sorbicillinoids and UV light displayed high levels of intracellular
reactive oxygen species (ROS), notable DNA photocleavage, and
compromised membrane permeability without overt cell membrane
disruption. Moreover, the dark toxicity, phototoxicity or hemolysis
activity of sorbicillinoids is negligible, showing its excellent
biocompatibility.