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2000
Volume 22, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1573-4137
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6786

Abstract

Introduction

is the etiological agent of cystic echinococcosis (CE), a tropical disease that is widely distributed yet often overlooked. As a major zoonotic parasitic disease, it impacts both humans and animals. Given the lack of a viable vaccine, therapy remains the sole preventive option for CE. This systematic review aims to consolidate existing research on biosynthesized nanoparticles as potential drugs for treating hydatid cyst protoscoleces , , and .

Methods

This study was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive global search was performed without date restrictions up to October 15th, 2024, using Google Scholar and six English-language databases, EMBASE, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, to gather all relevant articles. The keywords used in the search were “protoscolicidal”, “scolicidal”, “protoscolex”, “scolex”, “nanoparticle”, “nanomedicine”, “nanomaterial”, “green synthesis”, “biosynthesis”, “hydatid cyst”, “cystic echinococcosis”, and “.

Results

Out of the 2185 studies considered, this systematic review included twenty. Of these, thirteen (65%) were conducted , three (15%) were , two (10%) were , one (5%) was , and one (5%) was . The results indicated that metal nanoparticles, including silver, gold, zinc, copper, and selenium (n = 13, 65%), were the most commonly used biosynthesized nanoparticles in the study. Metal oxide nanoparticles, such as zinc oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide, and silver-zinc oxide, were the next most frequent (n = 6, 30%). Lastly, a single study (n = 1, 5%) utilized polymeric nanoparticles, specifically chitosan-based ones.

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights the promising potential of biosynthesized nanoparticles as protoscolicidal agents against . The analysis of 20 studies revealed a predominant focus on metal nanoparticles, particularly silver, gold, zinc, copper, and selenium, which exhibited notable efficacy across , and settings. The findings emphasize the necessity of exploring diverse nanoparticle types, such as metal oxides and polymeric nanoparticles, to enhance treatment strategies for this neglected zoonotic disease.

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2025-02-07
2026-01-04

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Biosynthesized Nanoparticles as Potential Drug Candidates for the Treatment of Cystic Echinococcosis: A Systematic Review
Curr. Nanosci. 22, 88 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734137341299250116152732
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  • Article Type:     Review Article
Keyword(s): biosynthesis; cystic echinococcosis; Hydatid cyst; nanomedicine; nanoparticle; protoscoleces

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