Nanomedicine has the potential in enhancing the efficacy and bioavailability of anti-infective agents. Here we determined whether conjugation of the Malaysian cultivated seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii with silver-conjugated nanoparticles enhanced anti-acanthamoebic properties. Silver-conjugated K. alvarezii were successfully synthesized, followed by characterization with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Amoebicidal effects were evaluated against Acanthamoeba castellanii, and cytotoxicity assays were performed using HaCaT cells. Viability assays revealed that silver nanoparticles conjugated with K. alvarezii extract exhibited significant antiamoebic properties (P < 0.05). Nano-conjugates induced the production of reactive oxygen species. Importantly, silver-conjugated extract inhibited amoeba-mediated host cell damage as established by lactate dehydrogenase release. Neither the nano-conjugates nor the extract showed cytotoxicity against human cells in vitro. Liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy revealed several molecules, including 2,6-nonadien-1-ol, N-desmethyl trifluoperazine, dulciol B, lucidumol A, acetoxolone, 2-[4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-5-(octyloxy)phenol, C16 sphinganine, 22-tricosenoic acid, and β-dihydrorotenone, of which dulciol B and C16 sphinganine are known to possess antimicrobial activities. In summary, marine organisms are an important source of bioactive molecules with anti-acanthamoebic properties that can be enhanced by conjugating with silver nanoparticles. Natural products combined with nanotechnology using multifunctional nanoparticle complexes can deliver therapeutic agents effectively and hold promise in the development of new formulations of anti-acanthamoebic agents.

纳米医学具有提高抗感染药物的功效和生物利用度的潜力。在这里，我们确定了马来西亚栽培的海藻Kappaphycus alvarezii与银共轭纳米粒子的共轭是否增强了抗棘阿米巴特性。成功合成了银共轭K. alvarezii，然后用傅里叶变换红外光谱、紫外-可见分光光度法和透射电子显微镜进行表征。对卡氏棘阿米巴的杀阿米巴作用进行了评估，并使用 HaCaT 细胞进行了细胞毒性试验。活力测定表明，与K. alvarezii结合的银纳米颗粒提取物表现出显着的抗阿米巴特性（P< 0.05)。纳米共轭物诱导活性氧的产生。重要的是，银缀合物提取物抑制了由乳酸脱氢酶释放所建立的变形虫介导的宿主细胞损伤。纳米偶联物和提取物在体外均未显示对人体细胞的细胞毒性。液相色谱和质谱显示了几种分子，包括 2,6-nonadien-1-ol、N-去甲基三氟拉嗪、dulciol B、灵芝醇 A、acetoxolone、2-[4,6-bis(2,4-二甲基苯基)-1 ,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-5-(octyloxy)phenol, C16 sphinganine, 22-tricosenoic acid, and β-dihydrorotenone, 其中 dulciol B 和 C16 sphinganine 已知具有抗菌活性。总之，海洋生物是具有抗棘阿米巴特性的生物活性分子的重要来源，可以通过与银纳米颗粒结合来增强这种特性。天然产物与使用多功能纳米颗粒复合物的纳米技术相结合，可以有效地提供治疗药物，并有望开发抗棘阿米巴药物的新配方。