SciFocus. Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by the Leishmania parasites transmitted through sand fly bites, has posed significant challenges due to the parasites' resistance to conventional drugs. However, a breakthrough in hydrogel technology offers hope in developing effective treatments against this debilitating disease.
- Chemists have developed a novel class of metal-based hydrogels capable of eliminating Leishmania parasites responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis, a condition characterized by skin ulcers.
- These hydrogels present potential for the development of advanced antileishmanial drugs, addressing the challenge of parasite resistance to existing treatments.
- Researchers from the
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
Kolkata led the study, which focused on utilizing cytidine and guanosine monophosphate (GMP) to form self-assembling hydrogels in silver acetate solutions.
- The cytidine-based hydrogels exhibited superior potency in inhibiting the growth of Leishmania major parasites compared to GMP-based hydrogels.
- Treatment with these hydrogels resulted in significant damage to the parasites' membrane, reduced cell volume, DNA fragmentation, and altered flagella morphology, ultimately leading to parasite death through apoptosis.
- Among the synthesized hydrogels, cytidine-derived C-gel 4 demonstrated the highest efficacy in killing parasites while remaining non-toxic to macrophage cell lines.
- The unique property of these hydrogels to transition between gel and sol phases can facilitate their formulation into pharmaceuticals for topical application, enhancing their therapeutic potential.
- Ongoing research includes testing the efficacy of these hydrogels against other Leishmania species and fungal infections that affect the skin.
- The study underscores the versatility of self-assembled hydrogels in biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and drug delivery, with promising implications for combating cutaneous leishmaniasis.
This groundbreaking research, published in ACS. Infect. Dis., represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by Leishmania parasites and offers hope for improved treatment strategies in the fight against leishmaniasis.
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