Sonophotodynamic therapy-a new method in the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: An in vitro study

Abstract

OBJECTİVE: In this study, we aimed to examine of antileishmanial effect of curcumin-mediated sonodynamic (SDT), photodynamic (PDT), and sonophotodynamic (SPDT) therapies with a potential mechanism against the Leishmania tropica (L.tropica) promastigotes. SPDT is a new treatment modality for Leishmaniasis that combines photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies. Curcumin is a natural antiinflammatory agent that has been used for treating medical conditions for many years. Curcumin was used in this study both as a sonosensitizer and photosensitizer to compare the effect of PDT, SDT, SPDT on L.tropica promastigotes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cells were incubated with different concentrations (0.25, 1,4,16 and 64μM) of curcumin for 1 hour, were exposed to 3 W/cm2 intensity ultrasound for 1MHz frequency and/or subjected to 1,32 J/cm2 light irradiation for 30 minutes. Also, parasite cells were exposed for SPDT with ultrasound and light only and both in the presence or absence of curcumin. XTT was used to evaluate cell viability and giemsa staining was used to determine morphological changes. RESULTS: With the combination of curcumin and ultrasound, curcumin and light, curcumin mediated ultrasound and light,L.tropica promastigote viability was found to be decreased compared to the control, ultrasound-control and light-control group. The greatest reduction was found in the SPDT group. Giemsa staining findings showed that curcumin-mediated SDT, PDT and SPDT induced several morphological alterations in L.tropica promastigotes atypical. These results showed that SPDT is more effective than other therapies on L.tropica promastigotes CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin-mediated SPDT may provide a promising approach for L.tropica promastigotes.