Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the antifungal effect of nitrogen-doped carbon nanozymes (N-carbon nanozyme) combined with near infrared on Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum). Methods: The standard strains of C. albicans and T. rubrum were routinely inoculated and cultured, and then, divided into four groups: (1) blank control group: the fungal group without treatment; (2) light group: the fungus was exposed to 2.5 W/cm2 near-infrared light for 8 min; (3) material group: the fungus was treated with 250 μg/mL N-carbon nanozyme for 30 min; (4) the experimental group: the fungus was treated with 250 μg/mL N-carbon nanozyme and 2.5 W/cm2 near infrared light for 8 min. The antifungal activity was observed by confocal fluorescence microscope after SYTO 9/PI staining. The morphological structure and the colony number of C.  albicans were detected by scanning electron microscopy and plate counting method. Results: The SYTO9/PI staining showed that the red fluorescence was strongest in the C. albicans and T. rubrum experimental groups. Plate counting method showed the CFU count in the C. albicans experimental group was significantly less than those in other groups. The biological scanning electron microscope revealed that the cell morphology was distorted significantly. Conclusion: N-carbon nanozyme combined with NIR irradiation has significant antifungal effects on C. albicans and T. rubrum in vitro.

Key words: nitrogen-doped carbon nanozyme, near infrared, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum