Green SPIONs as a novel highly selective treatment for leishmaniasis: an in vitro study against Leishmania amazonensis intracellular amastigotes

Objective: The main goal of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of green SPIONs produced with coconut water for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis. Materials and methods: Optical and electron microscopy techniques were used to evaluate the effects on cell proliferation, infectivity percentage, and ultrastructure. Results: SPIONs were internalized by both parasite stages, randomly distributed by the cytosol located mainly in membrane-bound compartments. The selectivity index for intracellular amastigotes was higher than 240 times compared to current drugs used to treat the disease. Conclusion: The synthesized SPIONs showed an important and promising anti-Leishmania activity and can be considered a strong candidate for a new therapeutic approach for treating leishmaniases.