Development of Ag-ZnO/AgO Nanocomposites Effectives for <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> Treatment
Rafaela Miranda Barbosa,
Malu Mateus Santos Obata,
José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto,
Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra,
Anna Victória Bernardes e Borges,
Rafael Obata Trevisan,
Letícia Cirelli Ruiz,
Júlia de Moura Bernardi,
Ana Carolina de Morais Oliveira-Scussel,
Sarah Cristina Sato Vaz Tanaka,
Fernanda Bernadelli de Vito,
Fernanda Rodrigues Helmo,
Thaís Soares Farnesi de Assunção,
Juliana Reis Machado,
Carlo José Freire de Oliveira,
Virmondes Rodrigues Júnior,
Anielle Christine Almeida Silva,
Marcos Vinicius da Silva
Affiliations
Rafaela Miranda Barbosa
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Malu Mateus Santos Obata
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74690-900, Goiás, Brazil
Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Anna Victória Bernardes e Borges
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Rafael Obata Trevisan
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Letícia Cirelli Ruiz
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Júlia de Moura Bernardi
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ana Carolina de Morais Oliveira-Scussel
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Sarah Cristina Sato Vaz Tanaka
Department of Medical Clinical, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Fernanda Bernadelli de Vito
Department of Medical Clinical, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Fernanda Rodrigues Helmo
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Thaís Soares Farnesi de Assunção
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Juliana Reis Machado
Department of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Carlo José Freire de Oliveira
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Virmondes Rodrigues Júnior
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Anielle Christine Almeida Silva
Laboratory of New Nanostructured and Functional Materials, Physics Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57010-000, Alagoas, Brazil
Marcos Vinicius da Silva
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmania braziliensis (L.b) is one of the most clinically relevant pathogens that affects the skin and mucosa, causing single or multiple disfiguring and life-threatening injuries. Even so, the few treatment options for patients have significant toxicity, high dropout rates, high cost, and the emergence of resistant strains, which implies the need for studies to promote new and better treatments to combat the disease. Zinc oxide nanocrystals are microbicidal and immunomodulatory agents. Here, we develop new Ag-ZnO/xAgO nanocomposites (NCPs) with three different percentages of silver oxide (AgO) nanocrystals (x = 49%, 65%, and 68%) that could act as an option for tegumentary leishmaniasis treatment. Our findings showed that 65% and 68% of AgO inhibit the extra and intracellular replication of L.b. and present a high selectivity index. Ag-ZnO/65%AgO NCPs modulate activation, expression of surface receptors, and cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells toward a proinflammatory phenotype. These results point to new Ag-ZnO/AgO nanocomposites as a promising option for L. braziliensis treatment.
