Ex vivo evaluation of curcumin-functionalized silver tungstate and analogues against Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula, juveniles and adults

• Grant number: 24/06545-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 03, 2025
• End date: July 02, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda de Freitas Anibal
• Grantee: Victor Hugo Guimarães
• Supervisor: Karl Francis Hoffmann
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Aberystwyth University, Wales
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/09490-2 - Evaluation of the silver semiconductor (alfa-Ag2WO4) associated with curcumin for the control of parasitic infection by Schistosoma mansoni in a murine model., BP.IC

Abstract

Schistosomiasis remains a persistent health challenge in Brazil, with tens of thousands of new cases annually and praziquantel currently as the primary and only treatment. However, concerns about the emergence of praziquantel-resistant parasites require the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. This study aims to investigate the ex vivo activity of curcumin-functionalized silver tungstate (AW-HRL-C) and compare it's effects with the non-functionalized compound, with structural analogues (hexagonal rod-like silver tungstate, cuboidal silver tungstate and nanometric rod-like silver tungstate), with other functional analogues compounds such as hydroxyapatite analogues (silver tungstate associated to hydroxyapatite, curcumin associated with hydroxyapatite and a silver tungstate-hydroxyapatite-curcumin compound) and with the molybdate analogues (curved rod-like silver molybdate, beveled cube silver molybdate and ultra cuboidal silver molybdate) against different lifecycle stages (schistosomula, juveniles and adults) of Schistosoma mansoni. Preliminary findings with the AW-HRL-C have shown efficacy comparable to praziquantel in reducing parasite burden and egg production in infected mice. However, detailed mechanisms regarding how AW-HRL-C exerts activity on schistosome life cycle stages found in the mammalian host remain unknown. The other descripted compounds are already seen in literature as a promising treatment or immunotherapy for S. mansoni; they were tested about their cytotoxicity on mice fibroblast cells (3T3) highlighting them as alternatives. Drawing inspiration from recent research on the oxidative properties of silver-based materials, mostly silver tungstate, this study seeks to provide a further mechanistic understanding of AW-HRL-C's anti-schistosomal effects and compare it to the effects of his structural or functional analogues, aiming for more targeted and effective treatments for schistosomiasis.