Reactive oxygen species generating photosynthesized ferromagnetic iron oxide nanorods as promising antileishmanial agent

• Published in: Nanomedicine (London, England) England), 2020-04, Vol.15 (8), p.755-771
• Main Authors: Islam, Arshad, Ain, Quratul, Munawar, Amna, Corrêa Junior, José Dias, Khan, Ajmal, Ahmad, Farhan, Demicheli, Cynthia, Shams, Dilawar Farhan, Ullah, Ikram, Sohail, Muhammad Farhan, Yasinzai, Masoom, Frézard, Frédéric, Nadhman, Akhtar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antileishmanial potential; Apoptosis; Aqueous solutions; biocompatibility; Chloride; ferromagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles; Flavonoids; infectious diseases; Iron; Laboratory animals; Leishmaniasis; Light emitting diodes; metal nanoparticles; Metal oxides; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; photodynamic therapy; Reactive oxygen species; Seeds; therapeutics; Tropical diseases
• ISSN: 1743-5889; 1748-6963
• DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2019-0095

To investigate the photodynamic therapeutic potential of ferromagnetic iron oxide nanorods (FIONs), using as a reducing agent, against . FIONs were characterized using ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. FIONs showed excellent activity against promastigotes and amastigotes (IC 0.036 ± 0.003 and 0.072 ± 0.001 μg/ml, respectively) upon 15 min pre-incubation light-emitting diode light (84 lm/W) exposure, resulting in reactive oxygen species generation and induction of cell death via apoptosis. FIONs were found to be highly biocompatible with human erythrocytes (LD 779 ± 21 μg/ml) and significantly selective (selectivity index >1000) against murine peritoneal macrophages (CC 102.7 ± 2.9 μg/ml). Due to their noteworthy antileishmanial properties, FIONs should be further investigated in an model of the disease.