Green Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles And Their Application As Antigen Delivery System

Résumé: Introduction: Scorpion envenomation is a major health problem in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in North Africa where Androctonus australis is one of the most deadly species, with a mean of 115000 stung patients each year. New therapies are now studied to prevent the pathophysiology of scorpion envenomation to improve immunotherapy, so far the only specific treatment to treat envenomed patients. For this purpose, the aim of the study is to develop a silver nanovector adsorbing Androctonus australis hector (Aah) venom to be used as a nanoformulation stimulating the host immune system. Materials and Methods: Silver nanoparticles (AgNps) were synthesized by green synthesis, using a leave extract of Eucalyptus globulus as reducing agent. AgNps were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy for the size, X-Ray Diffractometry and FTIR for structural characterization. AgNps were then used as a vaccine formulation adsorbing Aah venom and tested in mice in a single injection protocol. Specific IgG titers, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activities have been evaluated during the immunization protocol. Results: Physic-chemical characterization of AgNps revealed a relatively spherical shape of Nps, not exceeding 200 nm.Evaluation of MPO and EPO activities showed a low pro-inflammatory profile of AgNps while the nanovaccine adsorbing Aah venom shown an increase in MPO activity, marker of neutrophil polynuclear infiltration. Evaluation of specific antivenom IgG titers revealed the activation of the humoral response resulting in an antibody titer of 1/16000, 15 days after AgNps-Aah injection.Conclusion: AgNps adsorbing Aah venom is an easy and promising nanovector for the antigen delivery and activation of immune cells after a single immunization.

Publié dans la revue: Algerian Journal of Health Sciences