Potent in vitro antileishmanial activity of nanoformulation of cisplatin with carbon nanotubes against Leishmania major.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activities of carbon nanotube-bounded cisplatin (CP-CNTs) against both promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major in vitro.

METHODS: Cisplatin bounded to single- (CP-SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CP-MWCNTs) were considered as test compounds. In addition, SWCNT, MWCNT, cisplatin, and Glucantime® were considered as controls. The effect of each compound was evaluated on both promastigote and amastigote stages and the results were compared with each other.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between IC50 of CP-SWCNT and each of the controls, including SWCNT, cisplatin, and Glucantime® for both promastigote and amastigote (P <0.05). In addition, for both promastigote and amastigote, the comparison between IC50 of CP-MWCNT and each of the controls, including MWCNT, cisplatin, and Glucantime® was statistically significant (P <0.05). Nevertheless, the selectivity index (SI) of CP-SWCNT was lower than 10 (5.23), meaning that this compound is not completely safe. However, SI of CP-MWCNT (12.54) and Glucantime® (16.28) were higher than 10, indicating the selective effect of these two compounds on the parasite. Moreover, IC50 of CP-MWCNT (0.11±0.09μM) for amastigote was 0.02-fold lower than that of Glucantime® (4.52±1.31μM), suggesting that a lower dose of CP-MWCNT in comparison with Glucantime® is required to kill 50% of amastigotes.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the potent antileishmanial activity of CP-MWCNT in low concentration against L. major, it is suggested to be evaluated on the animal model.