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Review
. 2019 Apr;7(8):180.
doi: 10.21037/atm.2019.04.62.

Advances in nanotechnology and asthma

Lingwei Wang  1 , Mengjie Feng  1 , Qiuwen Li  1 , Chen Qiu  1 , Rongchang Chen  1
Affiliations
Review

Advances in nanotechnology and asthma

Lingwei Wang et al. Ann Transl Med. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, Asthma is the fastest-growing disease in the world alongside HIV/AIDS, and its socioeconomic burden exceeds the sum of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Its high disability and mortality rates have become serious social and public health concerns. Asthma is a heterogeneous disease in which genetic polymorphisms interact with the environmental factors. While no specific treatment has been available for asthma due to its complex pathogenesis, the advances in nanotechnology have brought new hope for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of asthma. Nanotechnology can achieve targeted delivery of drugs or genes, reduce toxic effects, and improve drug bioavailability. The nano-modifications of drugs and the development of new nano-drugs have become new research directions. Studies have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of nanocarriers. However, many challenges still need to be overcome before nanotherapy can be applied in clinical practice. In this article we review the new research highlights in this area, with an attempt to explore the great potential and feasibility of nanotechnology in treating asthma.

Keywords: Nanotechnology; asthma; nano-modifications of drug; nanotherapy; new nano-drugs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Airway changes in asthmatic patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Advantages of inhaled nanoparticles. The inhaled nanocarriers loaded with drugs or nucleic acids can passes through the bronchial tract and directly reach the lungs and act on the site of injury in asthma. After succeeding in reaching the lung parenchyma, the drug nanoparticles passes through subepithelial fibrosis and release drug.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic diagram of a multi-functional nanocarrier. Different molecules can functionalize the surface of a nanocarrier. The internal nuclei include various biologically active compounds including nucleic acids, drugs, and fluorescent substances.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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