Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Antiparasitic Effects of Gold Nanoparticles against Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces.

Echinococcosis, or hydatidosis, is one of the most important zoonotic diseases, which is initiated by the larval stage in the clasts of Echinococcus granulosus. For the treatment of hydatidosis, surgery is still the preferred method and the first line of treatment for symptomatic patients. Unfortunately, most of the scolicidal agents that are injected inside cysts during hydatid cyst surgery have side effects, including leaking out of the cyst and adverse effects on the living tissue of the host, such as necrosis of liver cells, which limits their use. This work was carried out to study the lethal effect of green synthesized gold nanoparticles (Au-NCs) against hydatid cyst protoscoleces. Au-NCs were green synthesized using the Saturja khuzestanica extract. Au-NCs were characterized by UV-visible absorbance assay, electron microscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Scolicidal properties of Au-NCs (1-5 mg/mL) were studied against protoscoleces for 10-60 min. The effect of Au-NCs on the expression level of the caspase-3 gene as well as the ultrastructural examination was studied by real-time PCR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cytotoxicity of Au-NCs on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and normal embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell lines was also studied by the cell viability assay. The obtained Au-NCs are cubes and have an average size of 20-30 nm. The highest scolicidal efficacy was observed at 5 mg/mL with 100% mortality after 20 min of treatment for hydatid cyst protoscoleces. In ex vivo, Au-NCs required more incubation time, indicating more protoscolicidal effects. Au-NCs markedly upregulated the gene level of caspase-3 in protoscoleces; whereas they changed the ultra-structure of protoscoleces by weakening and disintegrating the cell wall, wrinkles, and protrusions due to the formation of blebs. We showed the effective in vitro and ex vivo scolicidal effects of Au-NCs against hydatid cyst protoscoleces by provoking the apoptosis process of caspase-3 activation and changing the ultrastructure of protoscoleces with no significant cytotoxicity against human normal cells. However, additional studies should be conducted to determine the possible harmful side effects and accurate efficacy.

High potency of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles covered by piroctone olamine against cystic echinococcosis.

This study examined the synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with PO (FOMNPsP) and assessed their in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo effects against cystic echinococcosis. The FOMNPsP was synthesized through the alkalization of iron ions in a deoxygenated form. In vitro and ex vivo protoscolicidal effects of FOMNPsP (100-400 µg/mL) were evaluated on hydatid cyst protoscoleces by the eosin exclusion test for 10-60 min. The effect of FOMNPsP on caspase-3 gene expression and exterior ultra-structural of protoscoleces was assessed by real-time PCR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. In vivo effects were assessed by evaluating the number, size, and weight of hydatid cysts among infected mice. The FOMNPsP size was < 55 nm, and the most frequent particles were in the 15-20 nm range. In vitro and ex vivo assays revealed that the highest protoscolicidal effect was observed at 400 µg/mL with 100% lethality. After exposure of protoscoleces with FOMNPsP, the level of gene expression of caspase-3 was dose-dependently increased (p < 0.05). By SEM, the FOMNPsP-treated protoscoleces showed wrinkles and bulges resulting from the formation of blebs. FOMNPsP significantly decreased (p < 0.01) the mean number, size, and weight of the hydatid cyst. FOMNPsP revealed the potent protoscolicidal traits through disrupting the cell wall and apoptosis induction. The results also indicated the promising effect of FOMNPsP in controlling hydatid cysts in the animal model. Although FOMNPsP is safe for human normal cells, more investigations are required to clarify its toxicity and precise mechanisms of action.

Nanoparticles: New agents toward treatment of leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease that causes 20,000 to 30,000 deaths annually, making it a major health problem in endemic areas. Because of low-performance medications, drug delivery poses a great challenge for better treatment of leishmaniasis. The present study's purpose was to review the application of nanoparticles as a new method in leishmaniasis treatment. To identify all relevant literature, we searched Web of Sciences, Scopus, PubMed, NCBI, Scielo, and Google Scholar, and profiled studies published between 1986 and 2019. In the present study, we tried to identify different research efforts in different conditions that examined the influence of various nanoparticles on different forms of leishmaniasis. In this way, we could compare their results and obtain a reliable conclusion from the most recent studies on this subject. Our review's results indicate that incorporating nanoparticles with chemical drugs improves the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of drugs and reduces their costs. Finally, considering the use of nanoparticles in the destruction of parasites, their inhibitory effect (making drugs more effective and less harmful), and their utility in making effective vaccines to prevent and fight against parasites, further research on this issue is highly recommended.