Biomedical behaviors of CuO/γ-alumina/chitosan nanocomposites: Scolicidal and apoptotic effects on hydatid cysts protoscolices.

Hydatid cysts caused by Echinococcus granulosus are a serious health problem that requires effective treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the scolicidal and apoptotic effects of copper oxide (CuO) and gamma alumina (γ-Al 2 O 3) with or without chitosan (Chit), using Rosmarinus officinalis extract and chemical methods on protoscolices (PSCs) in vitro. The nanomaterials (NMs) were characterized by FTIR, EDS, DLS, XRD, FESEM, PDI, and zeta potential (ZP). Scolicidal and apoptotic effects of NMs were tested against PSCs at different concentrations and exposure times. The CuO NPs showed the highest scolicidal effect (33.26 %) among all NMs at 1.6 mg/mL and 60 min, followed by phytosynthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC (23.41 %). The chitosan-modified CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC and the chemically synthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC had less effect. The CuO NPs and the phytosynthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC also significantly increased the expression of the caspase - 3 gene in the PSCs at 0.4 mg/mL, indicating the induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, this study suggests that the phytosynthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC and the CuO NPs could be potential candidates for treating echinococcosis by killing the PSCs through apoptosis. Further studies are needed to verify the in vivo efficacy and toxicity of these NMs and to optimize their delivery and targeting systems. • Novel nanomaterials treat cystic echinococcosis. • CuO nanoparticles exhibit the highest scolicidal activity among tested nanomaterials. • Nanomaterials induce apoptosis in PSCs via caspase-3 gene expression. • Phytosynthesized NCs excel due to smaller size, stability, and bioactive compounds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]