Three-dimensional lung parenchyma model for studies of infection and antifungal treatment.

This work aims to standardize the three-dimensional hydroxyethyl-alginate-gelatin (HAG) scaffold as a model to evaluate biofilm and antifungal treatments. The scaffold was characterized by physical, rheological and microscopic analyses; the antibiofilm action was evaluated by determination of cfu and metabolic activity. The scaffold was non-toxic showing stability in aqueous media, swelling capacity, elasticity and had homogeneously distributed pores averaging 190 μm. The biofilm established itself very well on the scaffold and treatment with amphotericin B and voriconazole reduced viable cells and metabolic activity. The HAG scaffold proved to be a model to mimic lung parenchyma, suitable for establishing a 3D biofilm culture of and evaluating the efficacy of antifungals.