Biofilm-targeted chitosan therapeutics against Candida auris : from molecular mechanisms to smart hydrogels and digital mycology

Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that forms persistent biofilms on medical devices and hospital surfaces, and current antifungals often fail against it. Chitosan, a natural cationic polysaccharide derived from chitin, has emerged as a promising biomaterial against these biofilms. This narrative review draws on literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (January 2009–April 2026) to examine how chitosan disrupts C. auris biofilms and where the evidence actually stands. We cover chitosan’s antifungal mechanisms, membrane disruption, reactive oxygen species generation, and interference with quorum sensing, along with its formulation into nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and hydrogels. Much of this mechanistic evidence comes from C. albicans and other Candida species rather than C. auris itself, a gap we highlight throughout. Smart, stimuli-responsive hydrogels designed to release drugs within the acidic biofilm microenvironment show particular promise, as do chitosan-antifungal combinations reporting synergistic activity, though C. auris-specific validation remains limited. Overall, chitosan-based biomaterials represent a scientifically sound but still largely preclinical strategy. Their translational future depends on dedicated C. auris in vivo efficacy studies, toxicity data, and eventual clinical trials.