Leishmaniasis is one of the world’s neglected tropical diseases. It is caused by over 20 species of protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. Clinically, it manifests in three forms: cutaneous leishmaniasis
(CL), characterized by deep lacerations in the skin; mucocutaneus leishmaniasis (ML), characterized by partial or total destruction of mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat; and visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the deadliest, which affects the spleen, the liver and can reach the bone marrow.
The current treatments are few, in some cases expensive and with limited access. Currently available drugs were developed more than 50 years ago and not specifically for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Moreover, they can be
toxic to patients. Treatment involves the administration of pentavalent antimonial compounds (for instance, sodium stibogluconate or meglumine antimonite), or other drugs such as liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB). The treatment time is long (up to 28 days) and the success rates varies widely due to either drop-out from the treatment, early death, migraines, anorexia, and others, which can be attributed to adverse effects from these drugs.
Within this scenario, the MetaLeish project (Metals against Leishmaniasis) aims at developing a new treatment based on biodegradable metal nanoparticles (BMPs) to cure cutaneous leishmaniasis. The purpose is to develop a new, practical, and affordable therapeutic solution that minimizes unwanted side effects, avoids the development of resistances, and is of easy access for the most affected population. The general hypothesis is that BMPs of metals such as zinc (Zn) or magnesium (Mg) can affect the intracellular environment where the parasite thrives and, thus, affect its viability.
