Inorganic nanoparticles kill Toxoplasma gondii via changes in redox status and mitochondrial membrane potential

This study evaluated the anti- potential of gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles (NPs). Inorganic NPs (0.01-1,000 µg/mL) were screened for antiparasitic activity. The NPs caused >90% inhibition of growth with EC values of ≤7, ≤1, and ≤100 µg/mL for gold, silver, and platinum NPs, respectively. The NPs showed no host cell cytotoxicity at the effective anti- concentrations; the estimated selectivity index revealed a ≥20-fold activity toward the parasite versus the host cell. The anti- activity of the NPs, which may be linked to redox signaling, affected the parasite mitochondrial membrane potential and parasite invasion, replication, recovery, and infectivity potential. Our results demonstrated the antiparasitic potential of NPs. The findings support the further exploration of NPs as a possible source of alternative and effective anti- agents.