Abstract Oral candidiasis is a common fungal infection that affects the oral mucosa, and happens when Candida albicans interacts with bacteria in the oral microbiota, such as Streptococcus mutans, causing severe early childhood caries. C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilms are challenging to treat with conventional antimicrobial therapies, thus, new anti-infective drugs are required. Objective This study aimed to test a drug delivery system based on chitosan microparticles loaded with geranium and lemongrass essential oils to inhibit C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilms. Methodology Chitosan microparticles loaded with essential oils (CM-EOs) were obtained by spray-drying. Susceptibility of planktonic were performed according CLSI at 4 to 2,048 µg/mL. Mixed biofilms were incubated at 37ºC for 48 h and exposed to CM-EOs at 256 to 4,096 µg/mL. The antimicrobial effect was evaluated using the MTT assay, with biofilm architectural changes analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. RAW 264.7 cell was used to evaluate compound cytotoxicity. Results CM-EOs had better planktonic activity against C. albicans than S. mutans. All samples reduced the metabolic activity of mixed C. albicans and S. mutans biofilms, with encapsulated oils showing better activity than raw chitosan or oils. The microparticles reduced the biofilm on the slides. The essential oils showed cytotoxic effects against RAW 264.7 cells, but encapsulation into chitosan microparticles decreased their toxicity. Conclusion This study demonstrates that chitosan loaded with essential oils may provide an alternative method for treating diseases caused by C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilm, such as dental caries.

RESUMO Os processos geoquímicos que potencialmente controlam as características químicas das águas de três reservatórios, situados no estado de Sergipe, Nordeste do Brasil, foram avaliados usando o diagrama de Gibbs, análise de correlação, razões iônicas e modelagem geoquímica. Os resultados da modelagem geoquímica inversa, aplicada entre duas amostras de água de cada reservatório, foram concordantes com as observações da análise de correlação e razões iônicas, que indicaram a dissolução do sal marinho, o intemperismo dos silicatos e em menor proporção a dissolução dos carbonatos, como os principais processos geoquímicos responsáveis pelas características químicas das águas dos três reservatórios, inclusive confirmaram a importância da troca iônica para os reservatórios Macela e Ribeirópolis. Os resultados sugerem, portanto, que o crescente processo de salinização dos reservatórios é controlado principalmente pela interação água – rocha, podendo ter também contribuição da evaporação e de aportes antropogênicos.

ABSTRACT The geochemical processes that potentially control the chemical characteristics of the waters of three reservoirs located in the state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil, were evaluated using the Gibbs diagram, correlation analysis, ionic ratios and geochemical modeling. The results of the reverse geochemical modeling applied between two water samples from each reservoir were in agreement with the observations of the correlation analysis and ionic ratios, which indicated sea salt dissolution, silicate weathering and, to a lesser extent, carbonate dissolution, as the main geochemical processes responsible for the chemical characteristics of the waters of the three reservoirs, also confirming the importance of ion exchange for the Macela and Ribeirópolis reservoirs. These findings therefore suggest that the growing salinization process of the reservoirs is mainly controlled by water-rock interactions and may also be influenced by contributions from evaporation and anthropogenic inputs.