title: Inorganic nanoparticles killToxoplasma gondiivia changes in redox status and mitochondrial membrane potential.
abstract: This study evaluated the anti-Toxoplasma gondiipotential of gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles (NPs). Inorganic NPs (0.01-1,000 µg/mL) were screened for antiparasitic activity. The NPs caused >90% inhibition ofT. gondiigrowth with EC50values of ≤7, ≤1, and ≤100 µg/mL for gold, silver, and platinum NPs, respectively. The NPs showed no host cell cytotoxicity at the effective anti-T. gondiiconcentrations; the estimated selectivity index revealed a ≥20-fold activity toward the parasite versus the host cell. The anti-T. gondiiactivity of the NPs, which may be linked to redox signaling, affected the parasite mitochondrial membrane potential and parasite invasion, replication, recovery, and infectivity potential. Our results demonstrated the antiparasitic potential of NPs. The findings support the further exploration of NPs as a possible source of alternative and effective anti-T. gondiiagents.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan; Medicinal Biochemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oluyomi Stephen
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugi
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010271:Parasites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D002839:Chromans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid
keywords: antiparasite; drug screening; nanomedicine; toxoplasmosis