Therapeutic effects of the as-synthesized polylactic acid/chitosan nanofibers decorated with amphotricin B for in vitro treatment of Leishmaniasis

Comparison of cytotoxicity of Miltefosine and its niosomal form on chick embryo model

Various drugs have been used for the treatment of leishmaniasis, but they often have adverse effects on the body's organs. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of one type of drug, Miltefosine (MIL), and its analogue or modifier, liposomal Miltefosine (NMIL), on several fetal organs using both in silico analysis and practical tests on chicken embryos. Our in silico approach involved predicting the affinities of MIL and NMIL to critical proteins involved in leishmaniasis, including Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A), the Kinase insert domain receptor (KDR1), and apoptotic-regulator proteins (Bcl-2-associate). We then validated and supported these predictions through in vivo investigations, analyzing gene expression and pathological changes in angiogenesis and apoptotic mediators in MIL- and NMIL-treated chicken embryos. The results showed that NMIL had a more effective action towards VEGF-A and KDR1 in leishmaniasis, making it a better candidate for potential operative treatment during pregnancy than MIL alone. In vivo, studies also showed that chicken embryos under MIL treatment displayed less vascular mass and more degenerative and apoptotic changes than those treated with NMIL. These results suggest that NMIL could be a better treatment option for leishmaniasis during pregnancy.

In silico and in vitro potentials of crocin and amphotericin B on Leishmania major: Multiple synergistic mechanisms of actions

A significant barrier to optimal antileishmanial treatment is low efficacy and the emergence of drug resistance. Multiple approaches were used to monitor and assess crocin (a central component of saffron) mixed with amphotericin B (AmpB) potential in silico and in vitro consequences. The binding behavior of crocin and iNOS was the purpose of molecular docking. The results showed that crocin coupled with AmpB demonstrated a safe combination, extremely antileishmanial, suppressed Leishmania arginase absorption, and increased parasite death. This natural flower component is a robust antioxidant, significantly promoting the expression of the Th1-connected cytokines (IL12p40, IFN-γ, and TNF- α), iNOS, and transcription factors (Elk-1, c-Fos, and STAT-1). In comparison, the expression of the Th2-associated phenotypes (IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-β) was significantly reduced. The leishmanicidal effect of this combination was also mediated through programmed cell death (PCD), as confirmed by the manifestation of phosphatidylserine and cell cycle detention at the sub-GO/G1 phase. In conclusion, crocin with AmpB synergistically exerted in vitro antileishmanial action, generated nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, modulated Th1, and Th2 phenotypes and transfer factors, enhanced PCD profile and arrested the cell cycle of Leishmania major promastigotes. The main action of crocin and AmpB involved wide-ranging mechanistic insights for conducting other clinical settings as promising drug candidates for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therefore, this combination could be esteemed as a basis for a potential bioactive component and a logical source for leishmanicidal drug development against CL in future advanced clinical settings.

The novel treatments based on tissue engineering, cell therapy and nanotechnology for cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a global public health issue. Conventional treatments have substantial costs, side effects, and parasite resistance. Due to easy application and inexpensive cost, topical treatment is the optimal approach for CL. It could be used alone or with systemic treatments. Electrospun fibers as drug release systems in treating skin lesions have various advantages such as adjustable drug release rate, maintaining appropriate humidity and temperature, gas exchange, plasticity at the lesion site, similarity with the skin extracellular matrix (ECM) and drug delivery with high efficiency. Hydrogels are valuable scaffolds in the treatment of skin lesions. The important features of hydrogels include preserving unstable drugs from degradation, absorption of wound secretions, high biocompatibility, improving the re-epithelialization of the wound and preventing the formation of scars. One of the issues in local drug delivery systems for the skin is the low permeability of drugs in the skin. Polymeric scaffolds that are designed as microneedle patches can penetrate the skin and overcome this challenge. Also, drug delivery using nanocarriers increases the effectiveness of drugs in lower and more tolerable doses and reduces the toxicity of drugs. The application of cell therapy in the treatment of parasitic and infectious diseases has been widely investigated. The complexity of leishmaniasis treatment requires identifying new treatment options like cell therapy to overcome the disease. Topics investigated in this study include drug delivery systems based on tissue engineering scaffolds, nanotechnology and cell therapy-based studies to reduce the complications of CL.

Bioenhanced degradation of toluene by layer-by-layer self-assembled silica-based bio-microcapsules

In this study, micron-sized monodisperse SiO₂ microspheres were used as sacrificial templates, and chitosan/polylactic acid (CTS/PLA) bio-microcapsules were produced using the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method. Microcapsules isolate bacteria from their surroundings, forming a separate microenvironment and greatly improving microorganisms' ability to adapt to adverse environmental conditions. Morphology observation indicated that the pie-shaped bio-microcapsules with a certain thickness could be successfully prepared through LBL assembly method. Surface analysis showed that the LBL bio-microcapsules (LBMs) had large fractions of mesoporous. The biodegradation experiments of toluene and the determination of toluene degrading enzyme activity were also carried out under external adverse environmental conditions (i.e., unsuitable initial concentrations of toluene, pH, temperature, and salinity). The results showed that the removal rate of toluene by LBMs can basically reach more than 90% in 2 days under adverse environmental conditions, which is significantly higher than that of free bacteria. In particular, the removal rate of toluene by LBMs can reach four times that of free bacteria at pH 3, which indicates that LBMs maintain a high level of operational stability for toluene degradation. Flow cytometry analysis showed that LBL microcapsules could effectively reduce the death rate of the bacteria. The results of the enzyme activity assay showed that the enzyme activity was significantly stronger in the LBMs system than in the free bacteria system under the same unfavorable external environmental conditions. In conclusion, the LBMs were more adaptable to the uncertain external environment, which provided a feasible bioremediation strategy for the treatment of organic contaminants in actual groundwater.