Unravelling Toxoplasma treatment: conventional drugs toward nanomedicine

Azami, Sanaz Jafarpour; Rahimi, Hanieh Mohammad; Mirjalali, Hamed; Zali, Mohammad Reza

doi:10.1007/s11274-021-03000-x

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…More studies of individuals from non-Western countries and more longitudinal studies are needed to investigate causality and pathophysiological mechanisms. It may also be valuable to perform studies that focus on the improvement of anti- Toxoplasma medications and the development of a vaccine because current treatments for complicated T gondii infection have been associated with several adverse effects, limited therapeutic benefits, and drug resistance . Further research into alternative antiparasitic drugs is warranted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Association of Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity With Cognitive Function in Healthy People

et al. 2021

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IMPORTANCEThe parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with behavioral alterations and psychiatric disorders. Studies investigating neurocognition in people with T gondii infection have reported varying results. To systematically analyze these findings, a meta-analysis evaluating cognitive function in healthy people with and without T gondii seropositivity is needed. OBJECTIVE To assess whether and to what extent T gondii seropositivity is associated with cognitive function in otherwise healthy people. DATA SOURCES A systematic search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Embase was performed to identify studies from database inception to June 7, 2019, that analyzed cognitive function among healthy participants with available data on T gondii seropositivity. Search terms included toxoplasmosis, neurotoxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, cognition disorder, neuropsychological, and psychomotor performance.STUDY SELECTION Studies that performed cognitive assessment and analyzed T gondii seroprevalence among otherwise healthy participants were included.DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two researchers independently extracted data from published articles; if needed, authors were contacted to provide additional data. Quantitative syntheses were performed in predefined cognitive domains when 4 independent data sets per domain were available. Study quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias were assessed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Performance on neuropsychological tests measuring cognitive function. RESULTSThe systematic search yielded 1954 records. After removal of 533 duplicates, an additional 1363 records were excluded based on a review of titles and abstracts. A total of 58 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility (including reference list screening); 45 articles were excluded because they lacked important data or did not meet study inclusion or reference list criteria. The remaining 13 studies comprising 13 289 healthy participants (mean [SD] age, 46.7 [16.0] years; 6586 men [49.6%]) with and without T gondii seropositivity were included in the meta-analysis. Participants without T gondii seropositivity had favorable functioning in 4 cognitive domains: processing speed (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.19; P = .001), working memory (SMD, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.06-0.26; P = .002), short-term verbal memory (SMD, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.09-0.27; P < .001), and executive functioning (SMD, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.01-0.28; P = .03). A meta-regression analysis found a significant association between older age and executive functioning (Q = 6.17; P = .01). Little suggestion of publication bias was detected.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The study's findings suggested that T gondii seropositivity was associated with mild cognitive impairment in several cognitive domains. Although effect sizes were small, given the ubiquitous prevalence of this infection globally, th...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Association of Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity With Cognitive Function in Healthy People

et al. 2021

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“…Nanocarriers increase the solubility of the hydrophobic agents and improve target delivery of drugs (Jafarpour Azami et al, 2021) Nevertheless, encapsulation of plant extracts in SLNs, as a robust nanocarrier, has already been employed to overcome the limitations due to the multidrug resistance and to improve target delivery of antibiotics (Christaki et al, 2020;González-Paredes et al, 2019). Few studies have combined herbal extracts with SLNs for the treatment of parasites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, employing suitable nanocarriers overcomes the solubility and bioavailability limitations of conventional drugs (Alshawwa et al., 2022 ; Arshad et al., 2021 ; Din et al., 2017 ). Nanocarriers increase the solubility of the hydrophobic agents and improve target delivery of drugs (Jafarpour Azami et al., 2021 ). Polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers polymeric micelles, carbon nanotubes, and SLNs are well‐known nanocarriers, of which SLNs are ideal candidates for developing enclosed carriers for different types of therapeutic agents (Bayón‐Cordero et al., 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anti‐Toxoplasma gondii activity of rose hip oil–solid lipid nanoparticles

Mohammad Rahimi,

Hesari,

Mirsamadi

et al. 2024

Food Science & Nutrition

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Toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent pathogen, reported from almost all geographical regions of the world. Current anti‐T. gondii drugs are not effective enough in immunocompromised patients, encephalitis, chorioretinitis, and congenital toxoplasmosis. Therefore, the prescription of these drugs has been limited. Rose hip oil (RhO) is a natural plant compound, which shows antibacterial, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory activities. In the current study, the anti‐T. gondii and cell toxicity effects of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded by RhO (RhO‐SLNs) were evaluated. Emulsification sonicated‐homogenization method was used to prepare SLNs. RhO‐SLNs were characterized, and their anti‐T. gondii and cell toxicity effects were evaluated using in vitro analyses. The particle size and the zeta potential of the nanoparticles were 152.09 nm and −15.3 mV nm, respectively. The entrapment efficiency percentage was 79.1%. In the present study, the inhibitory concentration (IC)50 against T. gondii was >1 μg/mL (p‐value <.0001). The cell toxicity assay showed cytotoxicity concentration (CC)50 >10 mg/mL (p‐value = .017). In addition, at least 75% of T. gondii‐infected Vero cells remained alive at concentrations >10 mg/mL. The concentration of 1 mg/mL showed highest anti‐Toxoplasma activity and lowest cell toxicity against the Vero cell. Our findings suggest that carrying natural plant compounds with SLNs could be considered an effective option for treatment strategies against T. gondii infections.

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“…For example, Mohammad Rahimi et al [ 36 ] showed that although the aqueous extract of Mentha pulegium L. and Rubus idaeus L. presented promising anti- Toxoplasma effects, cell toxicity of the extracts, particularly, R. idaeus L. limited employing of R. idaeus L. for herbal therapy. The nanoformulation of the herbal extracts can not only increase the bioavailability, effectiveness, and target delivery, but also decrease the aforementioned limitations of the herbal extracts [ 9 , 62 ]. In the current study, we employed the SLNs to capsulate the NeO and increase its target delivery and efficiency.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this combination is not effective enough in cases who suffer from encephalitis, chorioretinitis, and congenital toxoplasmosis [ 6 – 8 ]. On the other hand, because of adverse effects, the prescription of these drugs has been limited [ 9 ]. Therefore, less toxic drugs are being developed as an alternative treatment plan in immunocompromised patients with toxoplasmosis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formulation of Neem oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of its anti-Toxoplasma activity

Nemati

Rahimi

Hesari

et al. 2022

BMC Complement Med Ther

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Background Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular zoonotic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which could be lethal in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to synthesize Neem oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (NeO-SLNs) and to evaluate the anti-Toxoplasma activity of this component. Methods The NeO-SLNs were constructed using double emulsification method, and their shape and size distribution were evaluated using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), respectively. An MTT assay was employed to evaluate the cell toxicity of the component. The anti-Toxoplasma activity of NeO-SLNs was investigated using vital (trypan-blue) staining. Anti-intracellular Toxoplasma activity of NeO-SLNs was evaluated in T. gondii-infected Vero cells. Results The TEM analysis represented round shape NeO-SLNs with clear and stable margins. DLS analysis showed a mean particle size 337.6 nm for SLNs, and most of nanoparticles were in range 30 to 120 nm. The cell toxicity of NeO-SLNs was directly correlated with the concentration of the component (P-value = 0.0013). The concentration of NeO-SLNs, which was toxic for at least 50% of alive T. gondii (cytotoxic concentration (CC50)), was > 10 mg/mL. The ability of NeO-SLNs to kill Toxoplasma was concentration-dependent (P-value < 0.0001), and all concentrations killed at least 70% of alive tachyzoites. Furthermore, the viability of T. gondii- infected Vero cells was inversely correlated with NeO-SLNs concentrations (P-value = 0.0317), and in the concentration 100 μg/mL at least 75% of T. gondii- infected Vero cells remained alive. Conclusions Overall, our findings demonstrated that the NeO-SLNs was able to kill T. gondii tachyzoites in concentration 100 μg/mL with a cell toxicity lower than 20%. Such results suggest that employing SLNs as carrier for NeO can effectively kill T. gondii tachyzoites with acceptable cell toxicity. Our findings also showed that SLNs capsulation of the NeO can lead to prolonged release of the extract, suggesting that NeO-SLNs could be also employed to clear cyst stages, which should be further investigated in animal models.

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Unravelling Toxoplasma treatment: conventional drugs toward nanomedicine

Cited by 12 publications

References 61 publications

Association of Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity With Cognitive Function in Healthy People

Association of Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity With Cognitive Function in Healthy People

Anti‐Toxoplasma gondii activity of rose hip oil–solid lipid nanoparticles

Formulation of Neem oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of its anti-Toxoplasma activity

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