Biophysical and biochemical properties of nanocrystal hemozoin produced by malaria parasite

Malaria is still a most important parasitic infectious disease in the world. It is caused by malaria parasite Plasmodium, which produces the biocrystal hemozoin to avoid the toxicity of free heme derived from hemoglobin digestion during intra-erythrocytic parasite development. Hemozoin is manifold involved in malaria pathogenesis, including the modulation of host immune response and accumulating increasing toxicity, caused by hemozoin products. The clinical significance arises also from hemozoin accumulation and permanence in spleen, liver and bone marrow exercising long-lasting effects. Certain similarities between hemozoin and other biologically active crystals, as monosodium urate and asbestos were described such as pro-oxidative properties and immune triggering. Paramagnetic characteristics of hemozoin are studied extensively and could be applied for theragnostics. Importantly, several antimalarial drugs exploit their interference with the process of hemozoin formation to kill the parasite. Conclusions. Hemozoin plays an essential role in the biology of malaria parasites. The importance and peculiarities of this nanocrystal allow to consider it as a target for new antimalarials and to use it through unconventional approaches for diagnostics and therapeutics against the disease. The unique chemical and biophysical properties of this crystal will open new ways of combating malaria.