Innovative nanotechnology for infectious and inflammatory disease control: From diagnostics to therapeutics

The global burden of infectious diseases continues to pose significant health threats, especially in low- and middle-income regions with limited healthcare access. This review explores cutting-edge innovations in combating these threats, emphasizing the role of nanotechnology. As traditional methods often fail to keep pace against rapidly evolving pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, nanotechnology offers promising solutions through novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive approaches. Nanoparticles (NPs), with their unique properties, enhance vaccine efficacy, enable targeted drug delivery, and provide advanced diagnostic capabilities. This paper reviews diverse nanostructures such as liposomes, polymeric, inorganic, carbon-based NPs, exosomes, and protein-based NPs, detailing their applications in vaccine development and infection targeting. Additionally, this paper highlights how nanotechnology can modulate inflammatory responses in infectious diseases to improve therapeutic outcomes. Nanodiagnostics advance pathogen detection with high specificity and sensitivity, crucial for effective disease management. Nanotechnology helps treat non-infectious inflammatory diseases by providing precise delivery systems for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. It also examines the latest advancements and opportunities in this field while addressing the challenges associated with clinical translation. In summary, nanotechnology offers integrated solutions for the treatment of inflammatory and infectious illnesses.