Potential application of nanotechnology in the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of schistosomiasis

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. Globally, it affects economically poor countries, typically due to a lack of proper sanitation systems, and poor hygiene conditions. Currently, no vaccine is available against schistosomiasis, and the preferred treatment is chemotherapy with the use of praziquantel. It is a common anti-schistosomal drug used against all known species of Schistosoma. To date, current treatment primarily the drug praziquantel has not been effective in treating Schistosoma species in their early stages. The drug of choice offers low bioavailability, water solubility, and fast metabolism. Globally drug resistance has been documented due to overuse of praziquantel, Parasite mutations, poor treatment compliance, co-infection with other strains of parasites, and overall parasitic load. The existing diagnostic methods have very little acceptability and are not readily applied for quick diagnosis. This review aims to summarize the use of nanotechnology in the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. It also explored safe and effective substitute approaches against parasitosis. At this stage, various nanomaterials are being used in drug delivery systems, diagnostic kits, and vaccine production. Nanotechnology is one of the modern and innovative methods to treat and diagnose several human diseases, particularly those caused by parasite infections. Herein we highlight the current advancement and application of nanotechnological approaches regarding the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of schistosomiasis.

Anti-fibrotic Effect of Oral Versus Intraperitoneal Administration of Gold Nanoparticles in Hepatic Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Mice

“…AuNPs have recently begun to be utilized extensively in numerous nanomedicine sectors for diagnostic and therapeutic applications [ 22 – 24 , 27 , 28 , 60 ]. The current study aimed to determine the anti-fibrotic effect of AuNPs as well as the most effective route of AuNPs administration for the mitigation of S. mansoni -induced liver fibrosis in vivo .…”

“…Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are among the most significant in the field because of their many desirable properties, including inertness, biocompatibility, and especially low toxicity [ 27 ]. It has been extensively used in various nanomedicine fields for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes [ 22 ]. In a previous study [ 28 ], AuNPs were used to deliver nuclear-targeted pharmaceuticals into biological cells.…”

Use of nanotechnology-based nanomaterial as a substitute for antibiotics in monogastric animals

“…Nanotechnology has the potential to restore the use of hazardous medications using multifaceted structures that allow drugs to be carried to the pathogen while protecting host cells and exerting less toxicity [ 20 ]. Nanomaterials have been industrialized for use in medicine and a variety of devices.…”

Recent Advances in the Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis

“…Schistosomiasis is ranked 2nd in terms of morbidity and mortality after malaria (Leblanc et al 2023). Schistosomiasis is mainly caused by parasites S. japonicum, S. mansoni, S. haematobium (Mu et al 2023a;Ullah et al 2021), Schistosoma mekongi, Schistosoma guineensis, and Schistosoma intercalatum (Ajibola et al 2018), in humans, and causes complicated conditions such as urinary bladder, colorectal, and liver malignancies (Qadeer et al 2022). Schistosoma parasites can affect about 240 million people globally and have a serious health problem prevalent in about 78 countries, approximately 0.7 billion individuals are in danger of contracting schistosomiasis (Ullah et al 2022;Ullah et al 2020a), and the estimated mortality due to this parasite is about 0.3 million yearly (Qadeer et al 2021).…”

“…At present, there is no available vaccine to combat schistosomiasis, and the primary treatment approach involves the administration of praziquantel via chemotherapy. However, the widespread use of praziquantel has resulted in the emergence of drug resistance in the schistosomes that cause disease (Qadeer et al 2022). Schistosomiasis has been detected using a variety of diagnostic methods.…”