Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a severe sight-threatening corneal
infection, has become a significant medical problem, especially among
contact lens wearers. The disease manifests as
eye pain, congestion, blurred vision, lachrymation, and ring-shaped infiltrates of the cornea, and can lead to permanent
blindness. Inappropriate habits of
contact lens users may result in an increased risk of AK
infection. The anti-amoebic efficiency of popular multipurpose
contact lens solutions is insufficient to reduce this risk. An effective and non-toxic
therapy against AK has not yet been developed. The prevention of AK is crucial to reduce the number of AK
infections. Nanoparticles are known to be active agents against bacteria, viruses, and fungi and were also recently tested against protozoa, including Acanthamoeba spp. In our previous studies, we proved the anti-amoebic and anti-adhesive activity of
silver nanoparticles against Acanthamoeba castellanii. The aim of this study is to evaluate the activity, cytotoxicity, and anti-adhesive properties of
silver nanoparticles conjugated with five commonly used multipurpose
contact lens solutions against the Acanthamoeba castellanii NEFF strain. The obtained results show a significant increase in anti-amoebic activity, without increasing the overall cytotoxicity, of Solo Care Aqua and Opti Free conjugated with nanoparticles. The adhesion of Acanthamoeba trophozoites to the
contact lens surface is also significantly reduced. We conclude that low concentrations of
silver nanoparticles can be used as an ingredient in
contact lens solutions to decrease the risk of
Acanthamoeba keratitis infection.