Application of Nanoparticles for Immunotherapy of Allergic Rhinitis

Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) is the only etiological therapeutic method available for allergic rhinitis (AR). Currently, several options for AIT in the market, such as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), have different routes of administration. These traditional methods have achieved encouraging outcomes in clinic. However, the side effects associated with these methods have raised the need for innovative approaches for AIT that improve safety, shorten the course of treatment and increase local drug concentration. Nanoparticles (NPs) are particles ranging in size from 1 to 100 nm, which have been hired as potential adjuvants for AIT. NPs can be employed as agents for modulating immune responses in AR or/and carriers for loading proteins, peptides or DNA molecules. This review focuses on different kinds of nanoparticle delivery systems, including chitosan nanoparticles, exosomes, metal nanoparticles, and viral nanoparticles. We summarized the advantages and limitations of NPs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Overall, NPs are expected to be a therapeutic option for AR, which requires more in-depth studies and long-term therapeutic validation.