Greener Nanoparticles: Potential Alternative Approach to Fight Protozoal Diseases

Abstract

Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotes parasitic organisms that are the primary causes of global morbidities and mortalities, in particular in developing nations. Several of them cause zoonotic protozoal diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, Chagas' disease, babesiosis, giardiasis and leishmaniasis, which can produce dangerous infections, with asymptomatic animals being able of spreading sickness. At present, protozoa are cured with chemotherapeutic antiparasitic medicines, although resistance to these treatments has developed over time due to misuse. Recently, Nanoparticles (NPs) are confirmed to be a significant innovation in the therapy and manipulation of parasitic infections in this scenario. In the last years, there has been tremendous progress in the discipline of parasite control using nanomedicine. Furthermore, NPs synthesized in green methods have a significant effect against most of the protozoan parasites. Recent research showed that green-based synthesized silver and gold NPs have demonstrated promising outcomes in the treatment and management of several parasitic illnesses. Additionally, other nanoparticles including zinc and copper and their oxides nanoparticles also exhibited anti-protozoan effects in recent studies. However, there are no sufficient studies explaining the mechanism of nanoparticles against protozoa. These nanoparticles function in a variety of methods, including organism plasma membrane damage, DNA interruption and protein production suppression, besides free radical fabrication. These substances are also efficient against intracellular parasites. The objective of this review is to summarize the technologies utilized to create nanoparticles as well as their potential modes of action against protozoal parasites. Additionally, it focuses on all the recent updates about biosynthesized nanoparticles against protozoan. This pilot review was designed to cover the updated nano medication against protozoal diseases which hopes to develop a modern effective drug and vaccine.