Exfoliated Egyptian kaolin immobilized heteropolyoxotungstate nanocomposite as an innovative antischistosomal agent: In vivo and in vitro bioactive studies

Abstract

This study aims to manipulate an antischistosomal nanocomposite based on exfoliated clay immobilized heteropolyoxotungstate. The nanocomposite's physicochemical characteristics were examined using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, DLS, SEM, HR-TEM and AFM. Nano-sized spheroidal negatively charged Keggin-type heteropolyoxotungstate particles were developed along and between the exfoliated clay layers. The impact of the nanocomposite on Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice was studied through parasitological, physiological and histological analyses. Infected mice were orally vaccinated by a single nanocomposite dose (15mg/kg/day) for two weeks. The schistosomicidal activities of the nanocomposite in vitro were investigated by examining its dose- and time-dependent responses in terms of % worm mortality. The time-dependent morphological alterations in schistosomes at a nanocomposite dosage of 15μg/mL were followed by SEM. The nanocomposite exhibited potential schistosomicidal properties with a marked reduction in worm burden (~85% mortality), extensive deformities in the adult worm tegument and suckers, improvement of serum biochemical activities, and diminishment in granulomatous lesions. The in vitro release of heteropolyoxotungstate from exfoliated clay indicates the clay's ability to embrace the heteropolytungstate until its liberation at the parasitic districts.