Investigating the Effect of Silver, Chitosan, and Curcumin Nanoparticles on <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. and Comparing it With Metronidazole In Vitro

Background: Blastocystis is an anaerobic gastrointestinal protozoan that causes infections in humans and a wide range of animals. It was found the host specificity pathogenic potential different isolates are correlated with sequence variations SSU-rRNA gene. The identification organism at species level still unclear challenge. use natural nature substances against infectious organisms has been promising, optimization these direction better delivery such as form nanoparticles (NPs) recently considered. Objectives: present study aimed to investigate effect silver, chitosan, curcumin NPs on spp. compare it metronidazole vitro conditions. Materials Methods: parasite cultivated Robinson’s medium then identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), subtype determined, which 3. Then, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) test performed determine toxicity prepared drugs/substances using Caco2 cells. This investigated concentrations silver (10, 25, 50 µg/mL), chitosan (75, 50, 12.5 (250, 500, 1000 their 24- 48-hour time points after exposure parasite. final number parasites counted staining trypan blue Neubauer slide, values IC50 selectivity index (SI) were calculated for each substance. Results: Chitosan had SI 2.04 13.15, respectively, more effective than metronidazole, NP 0.143. However, best antiparasitic effect. Based obtained results, blastocystis metronidazole. Conclusion: (liposomal curcumin) have good inhibitory compared but did not perform