Silver‐doped 58S bioactive glass as an anti‐Leishmania agent

Abstract

AbstractBioactive glasses (BG) incorporating antimicrobial agents can be effectively used against microorganisms. In this work, the in vitro effectiveness of silver‐doped 58S BG (BGAg) against Leishmania species was studied. BG, BGAg1, and BGAg2 belonging to the system 58SiO2∙(36‐x) CaO·6P2O5·xAg2O, where x=0, 1, and 2 mol.% Ag, were synthesized via sol‐gel, and characterized by scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopy, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR), and surface‐enhanced Raman (Raman‐SERS) spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity was assessed in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis cultures were exposed to all groups, and C57BL/6 macrophages were infected by over metacyclic form L. amazonensis under the exposure of BGAg particles. SEM and AFM images showed an irregular and network arranged surface. TGA, XRD, FTIR, and RAMAN‐SERS analyses confirmed silver inclusion within BG. None of the BG and BGAg presented toxicity. BGAg2 was effective in controlling promastigote forms under 150 and 300 μg/mL concentrations of both evaluated species. On macrophage invasion assay, BGAg2 presented reduction in metacyclic forms. For 72 hours, BGAg1 (150 μg/mL), BGAg1 (300 μg/mL), and BGAg2 in all concentrations were effective against intracellular infection. BGAg could be used as an alternative or complimentary agent to current chemotherapy.