Efficacy of the combination of P5 peptide and photodynamic therapy mediated by bixin and chlorin-e6 against Cutibacterium acnes biofilm

•Bixin-aPDT, Ce6-aPDT and AMP P5 reduced the entire C. acnes planktonic microbial load.•Bixin-aPDT completely eliminated C. acnes mature biofilm.•Endogenous C porphyrins of C. acnes biofilm, after exposure to blue light, exerted photodynamic effect along with bixin.•AMP P5 can be anti-biofilm agent as it demonstrated high bactericidal activity against mature C. acnes biofilm.•AMP P5 promoted greater internalization of Ce6 into C. acnes biofilm and showed a synergistic effect with Ce6-aPDT.