Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most significant parasitic diseases in Iran and other endemic regions. Existing standard treatments face challenges, including drug toxicity, difficulty in administration, and parasite resistance.
Objectives: In this study, nano chitosan based on dendrimers (NChi), which has antibacterial and antiparasitic effects, was used to target Leishmania major in vitro.
Methods: NChi was synthesized first. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to confirm the synthesis and measure the size, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the nanostructure's morphology. After assessing the cytotoxicity of the NChi on the macrophage cell line, the antileishmanial effects of NChi were evaluated after 24 and 48 hours. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed using the ANOVA test in SPSS software.
Results: The results demonstrated that NChi, with a size of 128.5 nm, is suitable for drug delivery. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of the nanostructure by indicating the attachment of chitosan to the dendrimer. The MTT assay on macrophage cells showed no cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanocomposite at the applied concentration. Moreover, after 48 hours, the NChi exhibited significant antileishmanial activity, achieving 100% growth inhibition at a concentration of 40 µg/ml.
Conclusion: This study highlights NChi as a more effective alternative to conventional chitosan for leishmaniasis due to its optimal size, stability, and potent anti-promastigote activity, positioning it as a promising substitute for chemical drugs like glucantime.