Applications of Nanoparticles in Treatment of Giardiasis
Applications of Nanoparticles in Treatment of Giardiasis
Sahar Nasehi,1Faride Khanabadi,2Mahla Noorzaei,3Taher Elmi,4,*
1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran. 2. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. 3. Department of Laboratory Sciences, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran 4. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
Introduction: Giardiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia, is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in humans, characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. Treatment of this infection has become increasingly challenging due to reports of drug resistance and the presence of various parasite assemblages. Additionally, common drugs used for giardiasis treatment are associated with side effects like disulfiram-like reactions, tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, and vomiting, underscoring the need for alternative therapies. In light of these challenges, this review systematically examines the potential of nanoparticles as an alternative treatment for giardiasis, evaluating their efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
Methods: In the present review, we searched the PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Wiley databases for relevant articles. The keywords used in the search were Giardia lamblia, G. lamblia, nano, treatment, assemblages, in vivo, and in vitro.
Results: This study has found that some new nanoparticles, such as nano-chitosan, nano-gold, nano-silver, and nano-curcumin, are promising candidates for treating giardiasis in vivo and in vitro. For example, El-Gendy et al. (2021) reported that chitosan nanoparticles at a dose of 50 μg/kg for 7 days reduced parasitemia by 75%, and when metronidazole was loaded into these nanoparticles, the effectiveness increased to 94%. In another study, Said et al. showed that curcumin had only a moderate effect at a dose of 450 mg; however, in nanoparticle form, curcumin exhibited enhanced anti-parasite potency. Additionally, silver nanoparticles at a dose of 100 ppm demonstrated 72% effectiveness against the Giardia parasite, and Baz et al. (2022) confirmed the effectiveness of gold nanoparticles in treating giardiasis.
Conclusion: In addition to evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic agents, it is crucial to consider their toxicity to body tissues and cost-effectiveness. For instance, while studies have demonstrated that gold nanoparticles exhibit high efficacy against giardiasis, they have also shown toxic effects on liver tissues in treated mice. Consequently, the clinical application of gold nanoparticles has been challenged due to these adverse effects and the high costs associated with their production.