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Metformin-coated silver nanoparticles exhibit anti-acanthamoebic activities against both trophozoite and cyst stages.
- Source :
-
Experimental parasitology [Exp Parasitol] 2020 Aug; Vol. 215, pp. 107915. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 24. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Acanthamoeba castellanii is an opportunistic protozoan responsible for serious human infections including Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive care, infections due to Acanthamoeba are a major public concern. Current methods of treatment are not fully effective against both the trophozoite and cyst forms of A. castellanii and are often associated with severe adverse effects, host cell cytotoxicity and recurrence of infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches for the treatment and management of Acanthamoebic infections. Repurposing of clinically approved drugs is a viable avenue for exploration and is particularly useful for neglected and rare diseases where there is limited interest by pharmaceutical companies. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems offer promising approaches in the biomedical field, particularly in diagnosis and drug delivery. Herein, we conjugated an antihyperglycemic drug, metformin with silver nanoparticles and assessed its anti-acanthamoebic properties. Characterization by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy showed successful formation of metformin-coated silver nanoparticles. Amoebicidal and amoebistatic assays revealed that metformin-coated silver nanoparticles reduced the viability and inhibited the growth of A. castellanii significantly more than metformin and silver nanoparticles alone at both 5 and 10 μM after 24 h incubation. Metformin-coated silver nanoparticles also blocked encystation and inhibited the excystation in Acanthamoeba after 72 h incubation. Overall, the conjugation of metformin with silver nanoparticles was found to enhance its antiamoebic effects against A. castellanii. Furthermore, the pretreatment of A. castellanii with metformin and metformin-coated silver nanoparticles for 2 h also reduced the amoebae-mediated host cell cytotoxicity after 24 h incubation from 73% to 10% at 10 μM, indicating that the drug-conjugated silver nanoparticles confer protection to human cells. These findings suggest that metformin-coated silver nanoparticles hold promise in the improved treatment and management of Acanthamoeba infections.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Acanthamoeba Keratitis drug therapy
Acanthamoeba Keratitis parasitology
Anti-Infective Agents, Local pharmacology
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections drug therapy
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections parasitology
Chlorhexidine pharmacology
HeLa Cells
Humans
Infectious Encephalitis drug therapy
Infectious Encephalitis parasitology
Metal Nanoparticles administration & dosage
Metal Nanoparticles therapeutic use
Metformin pharmacology
Metformin therapeutic use
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Parasite Encystment drug effects
Silver
Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
Trophozoites drug effects
Acanthamoeba castellanii drug effects
Metformin administration & dosage
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1090-2449
- Volume :
- 215
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Experimental parasitology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32461112
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107915