Dermatophytes are fungi that can cause
infections (known as
tinea) of the skin, hair and nails because of their ability to use
keratin. Superficial
mycoses are probably the most prevalent of
infectious diseases worldwide. One of the most distinct limitations of the current therapeutic options is the recurrence of the
infection and
duration of treatment. The present study shows that Trichophyton rubrum in
suspension culture is susceptible to photodynamic treatment (
PDT), a completely new application in this area. T. rubrum could be effectively killed with the use of the light-activated
porphyrins deuteroporphyrin monomethylester (
DP mme) and 5,10,15-tris(4-methylpyridinium)-20-phenyl-[21H,23H]-
porphine trichloride (
Sylsens B). The photodynamic efficacy was compared with that of some other
photosensitizers that are well known in the field of
PDT: the
porphyrins deuteroporphyrin and
hematoporphyrin, the
drug Photofrin and several phthalocyanines. It was demonstrated that with the use of broadband white light, the phthalocyanines and
Photofrin displayed a fungistatic effect for about 1 week, whereas all the
porphyrins caused photodynamic killing of the dermatophyte.
Sylsens B was the most effective sensitizer and showed no dark toxicity; therefore, in an appropriate formulation, it could be a promising candidate for the treatment of various forms of
tinea. For
Sylsens B and
DP mme, which displayed the best results, a concentration-dependent uptake by T. rubrum was established.