Evaluation of the Apoptotic Effects of Flubendazole-Loaded mPEG-PCL Nanoparticles on Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces

Haniloo, Ali; Rostamizadeh, Kobra; Farhadi, Mehdi; Amanloo, Saeid

year 19, Issue 6 (November - December 2025) Iran J Med Microbiol 2025, 19(6): 421-431 | Back to browse issues page

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Haniloo A, Rostamizadeh K, Farhadi M, Amanloo S. Evaluation of the Apoptotic Effects of Flubendazole-Loaded mPEG-PCL Nanoparticles on Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces. Iran J Med Microbiol 2025; 19 (6) :421-431
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2941-en.html

Evaluation of the Apoptotic Effects of Flubendazole-Loaded mPEG-PCL Nanoparticles on Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces

Ali Haniloo¹

, Kobra Rostamizadeh²

, Mehdi Farhadi³

, Saeid Amanloo¹

1- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
2- Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
3- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , mfarhadi@zums.ac.ir

Abstract: (482 Views)

Background and Aim: Despite using various drugs, none have proven fully effective in treating cystic echinococcosis. This study aimed to evaluate the apoptotic effects of flubendazole-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles on Echinococcus (E.) granulosus protoscoleces.
Materials and Methods: Hydatid cysts were collected from the livers of infected sheep at the Zanjan slaughterhouse, and protoscoleces were aspirated from the fertile cysts. The viability of the collected parasites was determined using methylene blue exclusion test. Subsequently, the protoscoleces were treated for 48 hr with flubendazole-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles at final concentrations of 5 and 10 μg/mL, as well as with free flubendazole at the same concentrations. To assess apoptosis in protoscoleces, the TUNEL assay and DAPI staining were employed. Nuclear morphological changes were then examined under fluorescence microscope. The Kruskal–Wallis test in R software was used to compare the apoptotic rates among different groups.
Results: The highest apoptotic rate was observed in protoscoleces exposed to flubendazole-loaded nanoparticles at 10 μg/mL concentration after 48 hr of incubation, reaching 63 ± 6.55%. In contrast, free flubendazole at the same concentration induced apoptosis in 42.66 ± 5.68% of protoscoleces.
Conclusion: Flubendazole-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles exhibited greater apoptotic effects on E. granulosus protoscoleces compared to free flubendazole.

Keywords: Apoptosis, Cystic echinococcosis, Echinococcus granulosus, Flubendazole, Nanoparticles

Full-Text [PDF 844 kb] (35 Downloads)

Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Medical Parasitology
Received: 2025/10/29 | Accepted: 2025/12/20 | ePublished: 2025/12/29

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