Sensible graphene oxide differentiates macrophages and Leishmania: a bio-nano interplay in attenuating intracellular parasite.

ABSTRACT: Leishmania is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which resides in human macrophage vacuoles that are referred to as parasitophorus vacuoles. Amphotericin B (AmB) is the first-line drug with 99% cure rates; however, overdose-induced toxic side effects are a major limitation. To improve the efficacy at lower dose and subsequently to avoid toxicity and to further investigate the role of charge dynamics on the efficacy, a graphene oxide (GO)-based composite of AmB was developed with native negatively charged GO and amine-conjugated positively charged AGO. The AGO composite resulted in enhanced uptake as confirmed by confocal and FACS analysis. Thus, AGO caused a strong inhibition of amastigotes, with IC₅₀ values 5-fold lower than free AmB. The parasitophorus vacuol

SUBMITTER: Singh A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9055620 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature