Fig. 2

Scanning electron micrographs of Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes treated with the AgNP-PVP-MA nanocomposite (AgNP to 1 %, 0.1 g of PVP and 50 µg/mL of MA) for 96 h. A promastigote without treatment had preserved typical elongated morphology with externalized flagellum in excellent conditions (A). A promastigote with the presence of changes in body size (rounded body), compared with promastigotes in the untreated group, generated by the action of the AgNP-PVP-MA nanocomposite (B). A promastigote treated with AgNP-PVP-MA and presenting changes in body and the flagellum size, with rough type structure (C). Treated promastigote showing changes in the structure of the parasite, such as a wrinkled cell membrane (D). Promastigotes presenting alterations in the body shape with the presence of small vesicles (EVs) in the body (E). The presence of small vesicles (EVs) in both the body and flagellum after treatment (F). A promastigote altered by the effect of AMB (positive control) at a concentration of 0.5 µg/mL, with extensive membrane destruction (G)