Wound infections involving Candida albicans can be challenging to treat becaof the fungus ability to penetrate wound tissue and form biofilms. The goal of this study was to assess the activity of a hypochlorous acid (HOCl)generating electrochemical scaffold (escaffold) against C. albicans biofilms in vitro and on porcine dermal explants (ex vivo). C. albicans biofilms were grown either on acrylicbottom sixwell plates (in vitro) or on skin tissue excised from porcine ears (ex vivo), and the polarized escaffold was used to generate a continuous supply of low concentration HOCl near biofilm surfaces. C. albicans biofilms grown in vitro were reduced to undetectable amounts within 24 h of escaffold exposure, unlike control biofilms (528 0034 log10 (CFU cm2) P < 00001). C. albicans biofilms grown on porcine dermal explants were also reduced to undetectable amounts in 24 h, unlike control explant biofilms (429 0057 log10 (CFU cm2) P < 00001). There was a decrease in the number of viable mammalian cells (356 64) in uninfected porcine dermal explants exposed to continuous HOClgenerating escaffolds for 24 h compared to explants exposed to nonpolarized escaffolds (not generating HOCl) (P < 005). Our HOClgenerating escaffold is a potential antifungalfree strategy to treat C. albicans biofilms in chronic wounds. Wound infections caused by C. albicans are difficult to treat due to presence of biofilms in wound beds. Our HOCl producing escaffold provides a promising novel approach to treat wound infections caused by C. albicans.
