Evaluation of an Electrospun Fiber Loaded with Ozonated Oil for the Treat¬ment of Leishmaniasis Lesions in an Experimental Model

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease whose lesions may cause severe scarring and psy-chosocial impact. Current treatments often face poor patient adherence due to side effects and dosing. Electrospinning enables the incorporation of low-cost, bioactive compounds. Ozonated sunflower oil has shown potential to accelerate wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate electrospun fibers containing ozonated sunflower oil combined with standard anti-Leishmania therapy in lesions caused by Leishmania amazonensis in an animal model.
Methods: BALB/c mice (n=5/group) were infected with L. amazonensis (MHOM/BR/1977/LTB0016). Treatments in-cluded: meglumine antimoniate alone (MA), MA plus electrospun fiber with ozonated sunflower oil (MOO), MA plus fiber with non-ozonated sunflower oil (MNO) and an untreated control (CTRL). After 30 days, lesion size, parasite load, histology and systemic/local immune parameters were evaluated.
Results: All the groups exhibited lesion growth (MA 12±0.8%, MOO 24±0.4%, MNO 30±0.8 and CTRL 34±0.9%), but the MA group exhibited less growth. However, in the culture of the paws after the treatment, only in the MOO group, promastigotes did not grow, while the other groups reached titers of 1/6 (MA), 1/192 (MNO) and 1/384 (CTRL). Mac­roscopically, the MA and MOO groups showed complete healing of the lesion. Histologically, the MA group had a thicker epidermis (p<0.05) and the MA and MOO groups presented the lowest amount of cellular infiltration.
Conclusion: Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in a mouse model with an electrospun fiber containing ozo­nated oil improved drug treatment, ameliorating lesions and could be explored as an alternative treatment for this para­sitic disease.