NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS AND POTENTIAL IN PARASITOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW
2019
Muraleedharan, Kandayath | Chhabra, Manmohan
Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science, which deals with synthesis, strategy and manipulation of particle’s size and structure for a variety of applications. Therapeutic application of nanomedicine involves use of molecular tools in the development of various types of drug-carrier nano-devices as targeted delivering for control of infectious diseases of various etiologies. Among other applications, improved means of diagnosis and development of adjuvants for vaccination are also relevant. The use of nanotechnology in parasitic diseases is expected to open new opportunities by overcoming the increasing problem of drug resistance in several parasites by providing more effective and safer alternatives to traditional therapy. Researchers have indicated that among various nano-materials, oxidized metals particularly silver and gold have growth inhibitory or cytotoxic effect on several protozoans like Plasmodium, Leishmania and Toxoplasma and helminth parasites including Echinococcus, Fasciola and Schistosoma. Nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with current drugs have been used as anti-protozoan and anthelmintic activates. In green synthesis, some bio-active plant extracts have shown good potential for effective and safe control of arthropod vectors of disease and other parasites. In diagnosis of parasitic disease, the concept of NPs conjugation with the parasite biomarkers, has been shown sensitive in the early detection of especially important protozoan diseases. NPs have been shown to act as vaccine candidates against toxoplasmosis and malaria, as adjuvant to improve immune response against schistosomiasis, visceral leishmaniasis and coccidiosis. Their utility as a vaccine delivery system in parasitic diseases is also being investigated.
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