Ozonated oil is effective at killing Candida species and Streptococcus mutans biofilm-derived cells under aerobic and microaerobic conditions

Abstract

This study explores the growth of bacterial, fungal, and interkingdom biofilms under aerobiosis or microaerobic conditions and the effect of ozonated sunflower oil on these biofilms. Candida species and Streptococcus mutans were used to study this interaction due to their importance in oral health and disease as these microorganisms display a synergistic relationship that manifests in the onset of caries and tooth decay. Biofilms were developed in a 96-well microtiter plate at 37 ºC for 24 h, under aerobiosis or microaerobic conditions, and treated with ozonated oil for 5 to 120 min. All the microorganisms formed biofilms in both oxygenation conditions. Scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize biofilm morphology. Rodent experiments were performed to verify the oil-related toxicity and its efficacy in oral candidiasis. The growth of all Candida species was increased when co-cultured with S. mutans, whilst the growth of bacteria was greater only when co-cultured with C. krusei and C. orthopsilosis under aerobiosis and microaerobic conditions, respectively. Regardless of the oxygenation condition, ozonated oil significantly reduced the viability of all the tested biofilms and infected mice, showing remarkable microbicidal activity as corroborated with confocal microscopy and minimal toxicity. Thus, ozonated oil therapy can be explored as a strategy to control diseases associated with these biofilms especially in the oral cavity.

Chemical characterization of sunflower oil oxidized by UV and ozone with different degrees of oxidation and study of their antimicrobial action

“…A greater resistance was observed for the two Gram-negative bacteria. Similar results have been shown for bacteria and yeast treated with ozonized oils (Sechi et al, 2001;Ugazio et al, 2020;Higa et al, 2022). This evaluation shows that even at low doses, ozonized sunflower oil has a remarkable germicidal character that is not present in autoxidized oils.…”

The Oxygen–Ozone Adjunct Medical Treatment According to the Protocols from the Italian Scientific Society of Oxygen–Ozone Therapy: How Ozone Applications in the Blood Can Influence Clinical Therapy Success via the Modulation of Cell Biology and Immunity

“…Our interpretation of the reported data relies on two modalities with which ozone exerts its antimicrobial action. Ozonated formulations can directly kill bacteria in infected wounds [79][80][81][82].…”