Evaluation of excretory-secretory products of Lucilia sericata larvae loaded onto chitosan nanoparticles as a drug candidate against Leishmania major.

OBJECTIVES: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania major and characterized by chronic skin lesions. Treatment is often prolonged and associated with adverse effects. Chitosan, due to its favorable biomedical properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and wound-healing potential, has attracted considerable attention for therapeutic applications. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-leishmanial effects of excretory-secretory (ES) products of Lucilia sericata larvae loaded onto chitosan nanoparticles against L. major cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ES was collected, filter-sterilized, and loaded onto chitosan nanoparticles (CN). The ES-loaded CN was applied at different concentrations under both in vitro and in vivo conditions to leishmanial cells, and its cytotoxicity was compared with that of the standalone CN, crude ES, and Glucantime as the first-line drug against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major. RESULTS: ES-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were more effective in healing leishmanial lesions than the crude ES and chitosan nanoparticles applied separately. The ES-loaded CN exhibited stronger inhibitory effects against both intracellular and extracellular forms of the parasite than its components did when used alone. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that ES- loaded chitosan nanoparticles exerted antileishmanial and immunomodulatory effects on lesions. The formulation may therefore represent a promising alternative remedy for treating leishmanial lesions. Due to their biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, and controlled-release capability, ES-loaded CN showed effective performance in wound healing and treatment.