Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of a trypanocidal drug quinapyramine sulfate loaded-sodium alginate nanoparticles in mammalian cells

• Synthesized quinapyramine sulfate loaded-sodium alginate nanoparticles (QS-NPs) using emulsion cross-linking method.
• Determined the safety of the formulated nanoparticles, using Vero, Hela cell lines and horse erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner.
• Unveiled concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, production of reactive oxygen species and hemolysis in QS-NPs treated cells.
• QS-NPs were safe at effective trypanocidal doses and even at doses several times higher than the effective dose.

We synthesized quinapyramine sulfate loaded-sodium alginate nanoparticles (QS-NPs) to reduce undesirable toxic effects of QS against the parasite Trypanosoma evansi, a causative agent of trypanosomosis. To determine the safety of the formulated nanoparticles, biocompatibility of QS-NPs was determined using Vero, Hela cell lines and horse erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Our experiments unveiled a concentration-dependent safety/cytotoxicity (metabolic activity), genotoxicity (DNA damage, chromosomal aberrations), production of reactive oxygen species and hemolysis in QS-NPs treated cells. Annexin-V propidium iodide (PI) staining showed no massive apoptosis or necrosis. However, at very high doses (more than 300 times than the effective doses), we observed more toxicity in QS-NPs treated cells as compared to QS treated cells. QS-NPs were safe at effective trypanocidal doses and even at doses several times higher than the effective dose.