RELEASE OF C. ALBICANS FROM SKIN 95 (105 CFU/ml) suspensions in TBS. The control was treated with C. albicans and TBS without 3–4 μm CMC. The tape strips were incubated for 1 h at 33oC while shaking at 220 rpm, and then rinsed three times with 3 ml of DI water. Each tape strip was fi xed with 2.0 ml of 2.5% glutaraldehyde for 10 min. The tape strips were washed three times with 3.0 ml DI water and stained with 0.5 ml calcofl uor white for 10–15 min. The tape strips were again rinsed three times with 3.0 ml DI water and allowed to air dry. Once the tape strips were dry, the yeast cells were counted microscopically. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF RESULTS The yeast counts recorded using the visual release protocol were subjected to further analysis. The average and standard deviation were calculated for the triplicate counts, and t-tests were conducted to determine the statistical signifi cance of differences between the results for the different materials tested. RESULTS REMOVAL OF C. ALBICANS FROM SKIN TAPE STRIPS USING NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES Experimental results (Tables II and III, Figures 2 and 3) indicated that C. albicans was removed from skin tape strips most effectively with 3–4 μm CMC particles. PEI- Cellulose and Benonite were only marginally effective, and the other materials evaluated did not release the yeast from the skin tape strips (Table III). As demonstrated by the results in Figure 2, yeast cells were rapidly released from the skin tape strips, within the fi rst 10 min of contact with the CMC particles, as confi rmed by the visual count observations (Table II). The numbers in the table refl ect the average and standard devia- tion based on examination of three tape strips, visualizing 2 × 107 μm2 or 5% of the tape strip surface area. The ability of CMC to effectively release yeast from skin tape strips is further supported by the photomicrographs shown in Figure 4. EFFECT OF PH ON CMC EFFICACY Anionic particles were able to displace the yeast from the skin tape strips over a wide range of pH (Figure 5). Although phosphate and HEPES buffers demonstrated reduced Table II Percent Removal of Yeast from Skin Tape Strips as Measured by Visual Observation (n = 3) Material Concentration (mg/ml) Size (μm) AVG SD Percent Removal CM-Cellulose 0.4 3–4 4 2.8 97.7 PEI-Cellulose 0.4 3–4 109 12.0 36.6 DEAE-Cellulose 0.4 3–4 147 18.0 14.5

JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE 96 effectiveness at pH levels above 7.0, TRIS buffer remained highly effective at increased pH levels. The application of TRIS buffer could extend the effi cacy of anionic particles to higher pH values. ASSESSMENT OF CMC ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY Neither charged particle signifi cantly affected C. albicans viability (Table IV). Removal of yeast from skin tape strips using anionic particles as described does not kill or inhibit the growth of the microbes. PRETREATMENT OF SKIN TAPE STRIPS WITH CMC Pretreatment of the skin tape strips with CMC did not prevent yeast attachment, as established by the numbers of yeast cells counted on treated and untreated tape strips (Table V). A t-test on the average numbers of yeast cells observed for the triplicate treated and untreated strips indicated no signifi cant differences (p = 0.264). Table III Percent Removal of Yeast from Skin Tape Strips as Measured by Visual Observation (n = 3) Material Concentration (mg/ml) Size AVG SD Percent Removal Benonite 8.0 Powder 198.7 6.8 38.2 CM-Cellulose 8.0 Fibrous 317.0 24.8 1.5 Cellulose 8.0 Fibrous 294.7 21.2 8.4 DEAE-Cellulose 8.0 Powder 293.3 14.3 8.8 QAE-Cellulose 8.0 Fibrous 289.0 30.5 10.2 Cellulose-Phosphate 8.0 Powder 339.3 40.1 −5.5 Chitin 8.0 Powder 279.7 20.5 13.1 Figure 2. Visual counts of C. albicans on tape strips after exposure to 3–4 μm CMC particles ■ = Skin treated with 0.25 mg/mL CMC ▲ = Untreated skin Bars = SD (n=3).