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Nanotechnology Applied in Treatment of Important and Global Parasitic Diseases

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A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 9273

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marta De Lana

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Guest Editor

Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Interests: chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; parasite biology; clinical parasitology; diagnosis; immunology; genetic diversity; treatment; animal models
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Dear Colleagues,

Parasitic diseases represent a serious and complex group of diseases leading to serious clinical manifestations usually associated with poverty. These diseases represent enormous health and economic losses in developing countries and particularly in poor countries of all continents. The etiological treatment of these diseases remains neglected and the drugs available for human treatment have limited efficacy and availability, side effects, and a low percentage of cure, particularly in later infectious. Thus, the need for new compounds in formulations employing special technology for overtaking these challenges is urgent. In the last decades, nanotechnology had brought important advantages for this issue. Thus, Articles or Reviews covering this theme arouse great interest in the scientific community, especially nowadays when the studies of chemotherapy and clinical essays have grown and new compounds proved to be active in pre-clinical studies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Marta De Lana
Guest Editor

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Keywords

malaria/Chagas disease/leishmaniasis/schistosomiasis
Trypanosoma cruzi
chemotherapy
nanotechnology
new compounds

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Ag-ZnO/AgO Nanocomposites Effectives for Leishmania braziliensis Treatment

by Rafaela Miranda Barbosa, Malu Mateus Santos Obata, José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto, Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra, Anna Victória Bernardes e Borges, Rafael Obata Trevisan, Letícia Cirelli Ruiz, Júlia de Moura Bernardi, Ana Carolina de Morais Oliveira-Scussel, Sarah Cristina Sato Vaz Tanaka, Fernanda Bernadelli de Vito, Fernanda Rodrigues Helmo, Thaís Soares Farnesi de Assunção, Juliana Reis Machado, Carlo José Freire de Oliveira, Virmondes Rodrigues Júnior, Anielle Christine Almeida Silva and Marcos Vinicius da Silva

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(12), 2642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics14122642 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1301

Abstract

Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmania braziliensis (L.b) is one of the most clinically relevant pathogens that affects the skin and mucosa, causing single or multiple disfiguring and life-threatening injuries. Even so, the few treatment options for patients have significant toxicity, high dropout rates, high cost, and the emergence of resistant strains, which implies the need for studies to promote new and better treatments to combat the disease. Zinc oxide nanocrystals are microbicidal and immunomodulatory agents. Here, we develop new Ag-ZnO/xAgO nanocomposites (NCPs) with three different percentages of silver oxide (AgO) nanocrystals (x = 49%, 65%, and 68%) that could act as an option for tegumentary leishmaniasis treatment. Our findings showed that 65% and 68% of AgO inhibit the extra and intracellular replication of L.b. and present a high selectivity index. Ag-ZnO/65%AgO NCPs modulate activation, expression of surface receptors, and cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells toward a proinflammatory phenotype. These results point to new Ag-ZnO/AgO nanocomposites as a promising option for L. braziliensis treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology Applied in Treatment of Important and Global Parasitic Diseases)

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29 pages, 7699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Evaluation of an Antibody-Functionalized Lipoidal Nanosystem for Schistosomiasis Intervention

by Tayo A. Adekiya, Pradeep Kumar, Pierre P. D. Kondiah and Yahya E. Choonara

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(8), 1531; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081531 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1831

Abstract

This study employed nanotechnological techniques to design and develop a praziquantel nanoliposomal (NLP) system and surface-functionalized the NLP with anti-calpain antibody (anti-calpain-NLP) for targeted praziquantel (PZQ) delivery in the treatment of schistosomiasis. Anti-calpain-NLPs were prepared and validated for their physicochemical parameters, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, drug entrapment efficiency (DEE), drug loading capacity (DLC), drug release, and parasitological cure rate. The particle sizes for the formulated nanoliposomes ranged from 88.3 to 92.7 nm (PDI = 0.17–0.35), and zeta potential ranged from −20.2 to −31.9 mV. The DLC and DEE ranged from 9.03 to 14.16 and 92.07 to 94.63, respectively. The functionalization of the nanoliposome surface was stable, uniform, and spherical. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), thermal behavior and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis confirmed that the anti-calpain antibody and PZQ were attached to the surface and the nanoliposomes inner core, respectively. The drug sustained release was shown to be 93.2 and 91.1% within 24 h for NLP and anti-calpain-NLP, respectively. In the in vitro analysis study, the nanoliposome concentrations range of 30 to 120 μg/mL employed revealed acceptable levels of cell viability, with no significant cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage as well as 3T3 human fibroblast cells. Biochemical markers and histopathological analysis showed that the formulated nanoliposomes present no or minimal oxidative stress and confer hepatoprotective effects on the animals. The cure rate of the anti-calpain-NLP and PZQ was assessed by parasitological analysis, and it was discovered that treatment with 250 mg/kg anti-calpain-NLP demonstrated greater activity on the total worm burden, and ova count for both the juvenile and adult schistosomes in the intestine and liver of infected mice. The findings so obtained supported the ability of oral anti-calpain-NLP to target young and adult schistosomes in the liver and porto-mesenteric locations, resulting in improved effectiveness of PZQ. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology Applied in Treatment of Important and Global Parasitic Diseases)

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20 pages, 10332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preclinical Assessment of Ursolic Acid Loaded into Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis

by Jéssica Adriana Jesus, Ilza Maria Oliveira Sousa, Thays Nicolli Fragoso da Silva, Aurea Favero Ferreira, Márcia Dalastra Laurenti, Leila Antonangelo, Caroline Silvério Faria, Paulo Cardoso da Costa, Domingos de Carvalho Ferreira and Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero

Pharmaceutics 2021, 13(6), 908; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics13060908 - 19 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2534

Abstract

Ursolic acid, a triterpene produced by plants, displayed leishmanicidal activity in vitro and in vivo; however, the low solubility of this triterpene limits its efficacy. To increase the activity of ursolic acid (UA), this triterpene was entrapped in nanostructured lipid carriers (UA-NLC), physical-chemical parameters were estimated, the toxicity was assayed in healthy golden hamsters, and the efficacy of UA-NLC was studied in experimental visceral leishmanisis. UA-NLC exhibited a spherical shape with a smooth surface with a size of 266 nm. UA-NLC displayed low polydispersity (PDI = 0.18) and good colloidal stability (−29.26 mV). Hamsters treated with UA-NLC did not present morphological changes in visceral organs, and the levels of AST, ALT, urea and creatinine were normal. Animals infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and treated with UA-NLC showed lower parasitism than the infected controls, animals treated with UA or Amphotericin B (AmB). The therapeutic activity of UA-NLC was associated with the increase in a protective immune response, and it was associated with a high degree of spleen and liver preservation, and the normalization of hepatic and renal functions. These data indicate that the use of lipid nanoparticles as UA carriers can be an interesting strategy for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology Applied in Treatment of Important and Global Parasitic Diseases)

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Review

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19 pages, 2967 KiB

Open AccessReview

Are Nanobiosensors an Improved Solution for Diagnosis of Leishmania?

by Sona Jain, Wanessa Santana, Silvio S. Dolabella, André L. S. Santos, Eliana B. Souto and Patrícia Severino

Pharmaceutics 2021, 13(4), 491; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics13040491 - 03 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2737

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of the deadliest neglected tropical diseases affecting 12–15 million people worldwide, especially in middle- and low-income countries. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease is important for its adequate management and treatment. Several techniques are available for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Among these, parasitological and immunological tests are most widely used. However, in most cases, the utilized diagnostic techniques are not good enough, showing cross-reactivity and reduced accuracy. In recent years, many new methods have been reported with potential for improved diagnosis. This review focuses on the diagnosis of Leishmania exploring the biosensors and nanotechnology-based options for their detection. New developments including the use of nanomaterials as fluorophores, fluorescence quenchers as reducing agents and as dendrimers for signal improvement and amplification, together with the use of aptamers to replace antibodies are described. Future research opportunities to overcome the current limitations on the available diagnostic approaches are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology Applied in Treatment of Important and Global Parasitic Diseases)

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