Application of Silver Nanoparticles in Parasite Treatment
Ping Zhang,
Jiahao Gong,
Yan Jiang,
Yunfeng Long,
Weiqiang Lei,
Xiuge Gao,
Dawei Guo
Affiliations
Ping Zhang
College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, 99 Hongjing Road, Nanjing 211169, China
Jiahao Gong
Engineering Center of Innovative Veterinary Drugs, MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
Yan Jiang
Animal, Plant and Food Inspection Center of Nanjing Customs District, 39 Chuangzhi Road, Nanjing 210000, China
Yunfeng Long
Animal, Plant and Food Inspection Center of Nanjing Customs District, 39 Chuangzhi Road, Nanjing 210000, China
Weiqiang Lei
College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, 99 Hongjing Road, Nanjing 211169, China
Xiuge Gao
Engineering Center of Innovative Veterinary Drugs, MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
Dawei Guo
Engineering Center of Innovative Veterinary Drugs, MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are ultra-small silver particles with a size from 1 to 100 nanometers. Unlike bulk silver, they have unique physical and chemical properties. Numerous studies have shown that AgNPs have beneficial biological effects on various diseases, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, and antiviruses. One of the most well-known applications is in the field of antibacterial applications, where AgNPs have strong abilities to kill multi-drug resistant bacteria, making them a potential candidate as an antibacterial drug. Recently, AgNPs synthesized from plant extracts have exhibited outstanding antiparasitic effects, with a shorter duration of use and enhanced ability to inhibit parasite multiplication compared to traditional antiparasitic drugs. This review summarizes the types, characteristics, and the mechanism of action of AgNPs in anti-parasitism, mainly focusing on their effects in leishmaniasis, flukes, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, Haemonchus, Blastocystis hominis, and Strongylides. The aim is to provide a reference for the application of AgNPs in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases.
