Potential applications of inorganic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in parasitic diseases

Abstract

Parasitic diseases are globally distributed, leading to considerable morbidity and mortality especially in low and middle-income countries. The current treatment strategies of parasitic infections face hard challenges due to emergence of drug resistance and intolerable side effects. Therefore, the development of novel, safe and effective anti-parasitic agents is urgently required. In this context, nanomaterials represent an efficient tool to overcome the barriers observed in several conventional therapeutics. Nanotechnology has efficiently provided tools enabling structural modifications in chemical compounds, empowering their highly desirable selectivity and specificity. Among them, metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been significantly utilized as an alternative therapeutic approach and/or efficient delivery system in a wide range of parasitic diseases. Due to its extraordinary range of bactericidal properties and therapeutic abilities, AgNPs have become a part of medical management of various diseases. Moreover, a number of plant species successfully employed in AgNPs green synthesis, are ecofriendly efficient alternatives to chemically synthesized NPs. The current review aims to shed light on AgNPs regarding their physiochemical properties, synthesis methods, and potential applications in diagnosis, treatment, and protection against parasitic infections. Concerning the last issue, their insecticidal activities paved the way for prevention of transmission of vector borne parasitic diseases.The present review is intended to shed light on one of the important members of inorganic metal NPs, the "AgNPs", regarding the physiochemical properties, the different methods of synthesis, the diagnostic applications in parasitic infections, the in vitro and in vivo anti-parasitic activities, the drug-delivery properties and finally the preventive potentials. Different medically important parasites, affected by AgNPs are listed in this review. Plants that were successfully used in green synthesis of AgNPs are also listed. Selected articles were gathered from Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar using the keywords: