Abstract
Background: Free living amoebae of Acanthamoeba genus are cosmopolitan, widely distributed protozoans causing severe, vision-threatening corneal infection known as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Majority of the increasing number of AK cases are associated with contact lenses use. Due to lack of effective therapies against AK, proper eye hygiene and effective contact lenses disinfection are crucial in prevention of this infection. Currently available multipurpose contact lens disinfection systems are not fully effective against Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts. There is an urgent need to increase the disinfecting activity of these systems to prevent Acanthamoeba keratitis infections. Synthesized nanoparticles have been recently studied and proposed as a new generation of anti-microbial agents. It is also known that plant metabolites, including tannins, present anti-parasitic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-amoebic activity and cytotoxicity of the tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles (AgTANPs) conjugated with the selected multipurpose contact lens solutions.Methods: The anti-amoebic activity of pure contact lens care solutions and nanoparticles conjugated with contact lens care solutions were examined in vitro by colorimetric assay, based on the oxido-reduction of AlamarBlue. The cytotoxicity assays were performed using a fibroblast HS-5 (ATCC CRL-11882) cell line. The results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests using the p<0.05 level of a statistical significance.Results: The obtained results showed that nanoparticles enhanced anti-Acanthamoeba activity of the tested contact lens solutions without increasing their cytotoxicity profile. The activity is enhanced within minimal disinfection time recommended by the manufacturer.Conclusions: The conjugation of the selected contact lens solutions with AgTANPs might be a novel and promising approach as a part of preventive actions of Acanthamoeba keratitis infections among contact lens users.
Determination of Amoebicidal Activities of Multipurpose Contact Lens Solutions by Using a Most Probable Number Enumeration Technique
