Abstract
Background: Acanthamoeba is a globally dispersed protozoan that can cause different clinical manifestations in infected individuals. Various drugs have been proposed against its drug-resistant forms. Objective: The present study examined silver nanoparticles (NPs) with a good anti-parasitic background. More precisely, the study focused on evaluating the anti-parasitic effect of silver nano-scale particles on protozoan trophozoite and cysts by microscopic counting and flow cytometry after exposure to different concentrations. Methods: To this end, MTT assay and IC50 were used to assess the macrophage toxicity and cysts/trophozoites, respectively. Results: Based on the results, 100 ppm silver NPs had better anti-parasitic effects than 80 ppm concentration and even the standard treatment of Acanthamoeba on both trophozoite and cystic phases. Macrophages toxicity at 100 ppm concentration was similar to the control group. Conclusion: In general, further studies should be conducted to confirm the present results given the significant effects of silver NPs against trophozoite and parasite cysts.
Highlights
Acanthamoeba is a globally dispersed protozoan that can cause different clinical manifestations in infected individuals
In the case of Acanthamoeba keratitis, contact lenses are extremely involved and most infections are related to this case.[3]
Given the above-mentioned explanations, this study aimed to investigate the effect of silver NPs with different concentrations on the Acanthamoeba forms whether cysts or trophozoites in vitro
Summary
Acanthamoeba is a globally dispersed protozoan that can cause different clinical manifestations in infected individuals. The study focused on evaluating the anti-parasitic effect of silver nano-scale particles on protozoan trophozoite and cysts by microscopic counting and flow cytometry after exposure to different concentrations. The most well-known species of this genus is Entamoeba castellani, which is capable of causing diseases such as keratitis and encephalitis in humans In the former, unilateral eye involvement occurs in healthy individuals, and the latter is more frequently observed in immunocompromised individuals.[1,2] In the case of Acanthamoeba keratitis, contact lenses are extremely involved and most infections are related to this case.[3] Acanthamoeba’s disease is usually painful and can be difficult to treat due to the sensitivity of the surrounding tissue. Various treatments have been suggested for Acanthamoeba infections challenges such as resistance to treatment and high toxicity of some drugs are still ahead
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