ABSTRACT
In this experimental study, first the killing effect of silver nanoparticles alone or in combination with 3mA of Half-Wave Rectified Sine current was assessed in promastigote culture for 10 minutes. The survival rate of infected promastigotes was evaluated by Flow cytometery. In the second step, BALB/c mice were infected experimentally with L. major, followed by silver nanoparticles injected inter-lesion and simultaneously 3 mA a Half-Wave Rectified Sine current induction was applied directly into the wound. Finally, the lesion size and the mice body weight changes were measured during 5 weeks. Results indicated that simultaneous use of nanoparticle and electricity increased the mortality of promastigotes significantly. However, when 3 mA of HWRS and 160 µm/ml nanosilver were used alone in medium culture only 73.4% and 32% of promastigotes were killed respectively but the combined use destroys the promastigotes completely. The diameter of the lesions after six weeks in the control group; group treated with meglumine antimoniate and the group treated with HWRS increased to 6.01, 0.02 and 0.52 mm but in group treated with HWRS plus Nanosilver was reduced to -0.14 mm. The results showed that, when silver nanoparticles with HWRS current electricity were used in mice, the skin lesions were reduced in size but like Glucantime, complete healing was not achieved.
