The overall aim of this study was to determine whether conjugation with silver nanoparticles enhances effects of available drugs against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri. Amphotericin B, Nystatin, and Fluconazole were conjugated with silver nanoparticles, and synthesis was confirmed using UV–visible spectrophotometry. Atomic force microscopy determined their size in range of 20–100 nm. To determine amoebicidal effects, N. fowleri were incubated with drugs-conjugated silver nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles alone, and drugs alone. The findings revealed that silver nanoparticles conjugation significantly enhanced antiamoebic effects of Nystatin and Amphotericin B but not Fluconazole at micromolar concentrations, compared with the drugs alone. For the first time, our findings showed that silver nanoparticle conjugation enhances efficacy of antiamoebic drugs against N. fowleri. Given the rarity of the disease and challenges in developing new drugs, it is hoped that modifying existing drugs to enhance their antiamoebic effects is a useful avenue that holds promise in improving the treatment of brain-eating amoebae infection due to N. fowleri.

中文翻译：

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食用大脑的变形虫：银纳米粒子共轭增强了抗厌氧菌药物对福氏奈格勒菌的功效

这项研究的总体目的是确定与银纳米粒子的结合是否增强了现有药物对因内氏镰刀菌引起的原发性阿米巴性脑膜脑炎的作用。两性霉素B，制霉菌素和氟康唑与银纳米颗粒结合，并使用紫外可见分光光度法确认了合成。原子力显微镜确定了它们在20–100 nm范围内的大小。为了确定杀螨效果，福勒猪笼草将其与结合了药物的银纳米颗粒，单独的银纳米颗粒和单独的药物一起孵育。研究结果表明，与单独使用药物相比，银纳米颗粒的结合显着增强了制霉菌素和两性霉素B的抗贫血作用，但未提高氟康唑的微摩尔浓度。我们的研究结果首次表明，银纳米颗粒的缀合增强了抗厌氧药物对N. fowleri的功效。鉴于这种疾病的稀有性和开发新药物的挑战，人们希望对现有药物进行改良以增强其抗贫血作用是一条有用的途径，有望在改善因福氏猪笼草引起的脑食性阿米巴感染的治疗中获得希望。