Emerging nanotechnology approaches for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.
Currently, there is no cure and no preventive vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Combination antiretroviral therapy has dramatically improved treatment, but it has to be taken for a lifetime, has major side effects and is ineffective in patients in whom the virus develops resistance. Nanotechnology is an emerging multidisciplinary field that is revolutionizing medicine in the 21st century. It has a vast potential to radically advance the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. In this review, we discuss the challenges with the current treatment of the disease and shed light on the remarkable potential of nanotechnology to provide more effective treatment and prevention for HIV/AIDS by advancing antiretroviral therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, vaccinology and microbicides.
Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Biomaterials, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Tewodros
T
Mamo
E Ashley
EA
Moseman
Nagesh
N
Kolishetti
Carolina
C
Salvador-Morales
Jinjun
J
Shi
Daniel R
DR
Kuritzkes
Robert
R
Langer
Ulrich
U
von Andrian
Omid C
OC
Farokhzad
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering