Investigating the Therapeutic Effects of Albendazole, Mebendazole, and Praziquantel Nanocapsules in Hydatid Cyst-Infected Mice

Abstract

Drug resistance is the main challenge in treating parasitic diseases, including cystic echinococcosis (CE). Hence, the current study aims to investigate the effect of nanocapsules containing albendazole (ABZ), mebendazole (MBZ), and praziquantel (PZQ) on treating hydatid cysts in mice using these high-potency drugs. A total of 78 female white laboratory mice (BALB/C mice), 8 weeks old and weighing 25 g, were intraperitoneally injected with 1500 live protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus. The first group received ABZ nanocapsules, group 2 received MBZ nanocapsules, group 3 received PZQ nanocapsules, group 4 received ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules, group 5 received ABZ + PZQ nanocapsules, and group 6 received MBZ + PZQ nanocapsules. Each group also had a control group, which received the non-nanocapsulated drugs (group 7-12). Group 13 received no treatment and served as the negative control, just receiving phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). A thorough examination of the cysts' physical properties, including size, quantity, and weight, was carried out. According to our results, the polymeric nanocapsules are sphere-like and of different sizes. The total number of cysts in all nanocapsule groups significantly decreased compared to the control group. In the total weight of the cysts, ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules, ABZ + PZQ nanocapsules, and MBZ + PZQ nanocapsules had the least total cyst weight, showing that the use of the medicinal combination had a better effect on the penetration and weight reduction of the cysts. In conclusion, the findings showed that ABZ, MBZ, and PZQ significantly reduced the size, weight, and number of hydatid cysts in the mouse model used in this study.

Keywords: albendazole; cystic echinococcosis; hydatid cyst; mebendazole; mice; nanocapsules; praziquantel.

Figure 1

Measurement and weighing of cysts. (A) is an example of measuring and weighing a large cyst. (B) is an example of measuring and weighing a small cyst.

Figure 2

(A) The figure shows that the polymeric nanocapsules are shaped like spheres of different sizes. The blue arrows are pointing to the nanocapsules. (B) The SEM image of penetrating nanocapsules into the hydatid cyst wall.

Figure 3

Analysis of the mean quantity of parasitic lesions presented by each group of mice treated with nanocapsules and their controls. The nanocapsule groups significantly decreased the number of cysts compared to their positive control and negative groups (p < 0.05). The asterisk (*) indicates significant differences between nanocapsules and conventional treatment groups.

Figure 4

Analysis of the mean total weights of cysts in the nanocapsule groups and their positive control groups. Compared to control groups, nanocapsules significantly decreased the total weight of cysts (p < 0.05). The asterisk (*) indicates significant differences between nanocapsules and conventional treatment groups.

Figure 5

Comparison of cyst size and standard deviation (SD) between nanocapsules and control groups. The size of the smallest cysts decreased significantly in the nanocapsule group. ABZ nanocapsules and ABZ (p = 0.03). MBZ nanocapsules and MBZ (p = 0.001). PZQ nanocapsules and PZQ (p = 0.009). ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules and ABZ + MBZ (p = 0.001). ABZ + PZQ nanocapsules and ABZ + PZQ (p = 0.0005). MBZ + PZQ nanocapsules and MBZ + PZQ (p = 0.001). The asterisk (*) indicates significant differences between nanocapsules and conventional treatment groups.

Figure 6

Comparison of cyst size and standard deviation (SD) between nanocapsules and control groups. All nanocapsule groups significantly reduced the size of the largest cyst compared to the control groups except for ABZ. ABZ nanocapsules and ABZ (p = 0.19). MBZ nanocapsules and MBZ (p = 0.01). PZQ nanocapsules and PZQ (p = 0.0006). ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules and ABZ + MBZ (p = 0.06). ABZ + PZQ nanocapsules and ABZ + PZQ (p = 0.001). MBZ + PZQ nanocapsules and MBZ + PZQ (p = 0.0006). The asterisk (*) indicates significant differences between nanocapsules and conventional treatment groups.

Figure 7

The weight of the heaviest cyst was significantly decreased in the nanocapsule groups compared to their control groups, except for ABZ. ABZ nanocapsules and ABZ (p = 0.19). MBZ nanocapsules and MBZ (p = 0.005). PZQ nanocapsules and PZQ (p = 0.001). ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules and ABZ + MBZ (p = 0.001). ABZ + PZQ nanocapsules and ABZ + PZQ (p = 0.005). MBZ + PZQ nanocapsules and MBZ + PZQ (p = 0.001). The asterisk (*) indicates significant differences between nanocapsules and conventional treatment groups.

Figure 8

Comparison of cyst weight and standard deviation (SD) between nanocapsules and control groups. The lowest-weight cysts in the nanocapsule groups decreased significantly compared to the control groups, except for ABZ. ABZ nanocapsules and ABZ (p = 0.66). MBZ nanocapsules and MBZ (p = 0.002). PZQ nanocapsules and PZQ (p = 0.04). ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules and ABZ + MBZ (p = 0.02). ABZ + PZQ nanocapsules and ABZ + PZQ (p = 0.0003). MBZ + PZQ nanocapsules and MBZ + PZQ (p = 0.002). The asterisk (*) indicates significant differences between nanocapsules and conventional treatment groups.

Figure 9

Mice after intraperitoneal treatment with protosceleces that display hydatid cysts in the abdominal cavity organs. (A) Group treated with ABZ + MBZ nanocapsules. Arrows show two cysts that are very small due to treatment. (B) Group treated with ABZ + MBZ as a positive control. (C) The negative control group was treated only with PBS. Reduction in the number and size of cysts in the nanocapsule groups compared to the negative control and positive control groups (with arrows pointing to the cysts).