The Killing effect of Silver Nanoparticles and Direct Electric Current Induction on Leishmania major Promastigotes In Vitro

Objective: Worldwide, Leishmania major is one of the major causes of cutaneous leishmaniasis, including Iran. In the present study we investigate the effect of a direct electricity current in combination with silver nanoparticle on the killing of Leishmania major in vitro. Methods: We evaluated the effects of different concentrations of silver nanoparticles against Leishmania major promastigotes in vitro, then the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC۵۰) of the nanoparticles was determined. In the second step, the killing effect of silver nanoparticles alone or in combination with ۳mA of direct electric current was assessed in promastigote cultures for ۱۰ minutes. Next, we evaluated the survival rate of treated promastigotes with the MTT assay. Results: The parasite count showed that the various concentrations of silver nanoparticles significantly decreased the numbers of live promastigotes over time compared with the control group after ۲۴, ۴۸ and ۷۲ hours of culture. The IC۵۰ of the nanoparticles was ۳۹.۸ µg/ml after ۴۸ hours of cultivation. Promastigote mortality occurred in ۳۳.۵% with the use of silver nanoparticles alone at concentrations of ۱۶۰ µg/ml and ۱۰۰% when combined with ۳ mA direct current electricity after ۱۰ minutes. Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles alone did not completely kill Leishmania major promastigotes. However, the combined use of both direct current electricity and silver nanoparticles had a significant synergistic effect on promastigote mortality.

کلیدواژه ها:

Leishmania major ، Silver nanoparticle ، Direct current of electricity ، MMT assay ، لیشمانیا ماژور ، جریان مستقیم الکتریسته ، آزمون MTT ، نانو ذرات نقره