Nanotechnology: A reality for diagnosis of HCV infectious disease
Sonia Arca-Lafuente1, Paula Martínez-Román2, Irene Mate-Cano2
1Laboratory of Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain; BioAssays SL, c/Faraday, 7, Parque Científico de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis faces challenges in low-resource settings. Emerging nanotechnology offers sensitive, affordable, and portable diagnostic tools to improve screening and aid HCV elimination efforts.
Area of Science:
- Medical Diagnostics
- Nanotechnology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Current diagnostic methods are often inaccessible and unaffordable in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to high infection rates.
- Existing diagnostic algorithms involving serological and nucleic acid tests are time-consuming and not cost-effective for resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging nanotechnology-based tools for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis.
- To highlight the potential of nanoscale diagnostics to overcome limitations of conventional HCV screening.
- To assess the role of these advanced diagnostics in improving HCV treatment programs and achieving elimination goals.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on nanotechnology applications in infectious disease diagnostics.
- Focus on nanoparticle and nanomaterial-based assays targeting pathogen genomes.
- Analysis of the sensitivity, specificity, affordability, portability, and ease of use of emerging nanoscale diagnostic tests.
Main Results:
- Nanotechnology enables the development of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for infectious diseases like HCV.
- Nanoscale tests offer advantages such as affordability, portability, and ease of use by non-specialized personnel.
- These advanced tools have the potential to significantly improve the HCV diagnosis algorithm.
Conclusions:
- Emerging nanotechnology tools show great promise for improving Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and diagnosis globally.
- The implementation of affordable and accessible nanoscale diagnostics can enhance current treatment programs.
- Nanotechnology-based diagnostics are crucial for advancing HCV elimination strategies worldwide.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the primary etiologic agent of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV elevated infection rates are mostly due to the lack of an accurate and accessible screening and diagnosis, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Conventional HCV diagnostic algorithm consists of a serological test followed by a nucleic acid test. This sequence of tests is time consuming and not affordable for low-resource settings. Nanotechnology have introduced new promising tests for the diagnose of infectious diseases. Based on the employment of nanoparticles and other nanomaterials which lead to highly sensitive and specific nanoscale tests, most of them target pathogen genome. Implementation of nanoscale tests, which are affordable, portable and easy to use by non-specialized personal, would improve HCV diagnosis algorithm. In this review, we have summed up the current emerging nanotechnology tools, which will improve actual screening and treatment programs, and help to reach HCV elimination proposal.
