Title:Antiprotozoal and Anthelmintic Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Volume: 29
Issue: 12
Author(s): José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto, Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra, Juliana Reis Machado, Anielle Christine Almeida Silva and Marcos Vinicius da Silva*
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology,
Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas
Gerais, Brazil
Keywords:
Antiprotozoal, anthelmintic, zinc oxide, nanoparticles, treatment, infectious diseases.
Abstract: Nanomaterials represent a wide alternative for the treatment of several diseases that
affect both human and animal health. The use of these materials consists, mainly, in trying to
solve the problem of resistance that pathogenic organisms acquire to conventional drugs. A
well-studied example that represents a potential component for biomedical applications is the
use of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). Its antimicrobial function is related, especially to
the ability to generate/induce ROS that affects the homeostasis of the pathogen in question.
Protozoa and helminths that harm human health and the economic performance of animals
have already been exposed to this type of nanoparticle. Thus, through this review, our goal is
to discuss the state-of-the-art effect of ZnONPs on these parasites.