{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T00:26:22Z","timestamp":1790727982512,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,26]],"date-time":"2025-06-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750896000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization","award":["73TE\/03.01.2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["73TE\/03.01.2025"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with a high affinity for skin colonization and significant potential for nosocomial transmission. This study aimed to develop and evaluate chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with nystatin and propolis as a topical antifungal strategy for skin decolonization of C. auris. The formulations were selected based on our previous results and optimized for cutaneous application. The internal structure of the hydrogels was investigated by polarized light microscopy, confirming the amorphous nature of propolis and the partial dispersion of nystatin. The antifungal activity was assessed against ten fluconazole-resistant C. auris strains. The CS-NYS-PRO1 formulation demonstrated the highest antifungal performance in the agar test, also reducing viable cell counts to undetectable levels within 6 h. Time\u2013kill assays and SEM imaging confirmed the rapid fungicidal effect and revealed severe membrane disruption and cytoplasmic leakage. Molecular docking analyses indicated the strong binding of nystatin to both sterol 14\u03b1-demethylase (CYP51) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from C. auris, suggesting complementary membrane and intracellular mechanisms of action. These findings support the use of such hydrogels as a local, non-invasive, and biocompatible strategy for managing C. auris colonization, with promising implications for clinical use in infection control and the prevention of skin-mediated transmission in healthcare settings.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels11070498","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]],"date-time":"2025-06-27T03:33:25Z","timestamp":1750995205000},"page":"498","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Chitosan-Based Hydrogels Containing Nystatin and Propolis as a Novel Tool for Candida auris Skin Decolonization"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Andra-Cristina","family":"Bost\u0103naru-Iliescu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, \u201cIon Ionescu de la Brad\u201d Iasi University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania"},{"name":"Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov 3, 050044 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5417-2658","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andra-Cristina","family":"Enache","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u201cPetru Poni\u201d Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-4803-3746","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ionu\u021b Iulian","family":"Lungu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3651-6178","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Corneliu","family":"Cojocaru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u201cPetru Poni\u201d Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-0283-4711","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert","family":"Capot\u0103","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, \u201cIon Ionescu de la Brad\u201d Iasi University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania"},{"name":"Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov 3, 050044 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paula","family":"Cucu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, \u201cIon Ionescu de la Brad\u201d Iasi University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania"},{"name":"Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov 3, 050044 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Liliana","family":"Iliescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of General Medicine, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2512-6609","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Valeria","family":"Harabagiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u201cPetru Poni\u201d Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3103-4954","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihai","family":"Mare\u0219","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, \u201cIon Ionescu de la Brad\u201d Iasi University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alina","family":"Stefanache","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2020.12.002","article-title":"Murine Model of Colonization with Fungal Pathogen Candida auris to Explore Skin Tropism, Host Risk Factors and Therapeutic Strategies","volume":"29","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-micro-032521-015858","article-title":"Candida auris Genetics and Emergence","volume":"77","author":"Chowdhary","year":"2023","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. 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