Therapeutic Potential of Green Synthesized Copper Nanoparticles Alone or Combined with Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime^®) in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the focus on nanotechnological methods in medicine, especially in the treatment of microbial infections, has increased rapidly. Aim: The present study aims to evaluate in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial effects of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) green synthesized by Capparis spinosa fruit extract alone and combined with meglumine antimoniate (MA). Methods: CuNPs were green synthesized by C. spinosa methanolic extract. The in vitro antileishmanial activity of CuNPs (10–200 µg/mL) or MA alone (10–200 µg/mL), and various concentrations of MA (10–200 μg/mL) along with 20 μg/mL of CuNPs, was assessed against the Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) amastigote forms and, then tested on cutaneous leishmaniasis induced in male BALB/c mice by L. major. Moreover, infectivity rate, nitric oxide (NO) production, and cytotoxic effects of CuNPs on J774-A1 cells were evaluated. Results: Scanning electron microscopy showed that the particle size of CuNPs was 17 to 41 nm. The results demonstrated that CuNPs, especially combined with MA, significantly (p L. major amastigotes and triggered the production of NO (p p L. major, as well as recovery and improving cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) induced by L. major in BALB/c mice. Additionally, supplementary studies, especially in clinical settings, are required.

Keywords

• nanomedicine
• amastigote
• nitric oxide
• cytotoxicity
• cutaneous leishmaniasis
• mice