Background and Objective: Despite the use of 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 granulosus protoscoleces.
Methods: In May 2018, 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 the methylene blue (0.1%) exclusion test. Subsequently, the protoscoleces were treated for 48 hours 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 the protoscoleces, the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) and DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) methods were employed. Nuclear morphological changes were then examined under a fluorescence microscope. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare apoptotic rates among the groups.
Results: The highest apoptotic rate was observed in protoscoleces exposed to flubendazole-loaded nanoparticles at a concentration of 10 μg/mL after 48 hours 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 Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces compared to free flubendazole.