Photodynamic therapy inhibits cell growth and enhances the histone deacetylase-mediated viability impairment in Cryptococcus spp. in vitro

•Aluminum-phthalocyanine delivered by nanoemulsion accumulated into Cryptococcus spp. cells.•Photodynamic therapy led to a photosensitizer concentration-dependent Cryptococcus spp. inhibition.•Sodium butyrate and trichostatin A enhanced the inhibitory effect of photodynamic therapy. Cryptococcosis is a disseminated infection caused mainly by C. neoformans and C. gattii. Limitations for the treatment involve the selection of isolates resistant to conventional antifungal drugs, prolonged treatment time and drugs side effects. This study evaluated the combined effect of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the growth of C. neoformans and C. gattii in vitro. Results showed that PDT inhibited yeasts proliferation and enhanced the HDACi-mediated cell viability impairment in Cryptococcus spp.