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Nanotechnology in Dermatology pp 209–219Cite as

Nanotechnology for the Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections

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Abstract

Infectious diseases can trigger a large range of clinical symptoms in humans and animals. Most of them are nonspecific signs, especially in their earlier stages, usually rendering differential diagnosis difficult. Many infections also result in cutaneous manifestations, which may present as isolated symptoms as a result of a more complex, or even serious, systemic disorder. In some cases, cutaneous signs may allow for the generation of an accurate diagnosis of disease by facile and direct examination. However, in many cases, the need for additional diagnostic tools and techniques are required. Repeated histopathological analysis of multiple skin samples in cases of equivocal diagnosis leads to significant cost and discomfort to the patient, despite the frequent reliance on clinical findings for diagnosis in dermatology [1]. As such, rapid and specific diagnosis of skin and soft tissues infections require improved diagnostic methods and tools. Ideally, these should be able to provide simple, cost-effective, rapid, specific and sensitive detection, identification and quantification of the etiologic agent. A rapid and accurate diagnosis of infection not only allows prompt initiation of therapy, but also, when resistant strains are detected, allows for a change of therapeutic regimen tailored to the patient’s pathogen profile. In addition, quantitative methods of detection, able to accurately determine the effective burden of a microorganism in host tissues, may constitute an important means to predict disease progression and prognosis. Aesthetic concerns associated with current diagnostic methods must also be taken into account then managing infections. Some diagnostic techniques such as punch and excisional biopsies may result in considerable disfigurement and scarring. New diagnostic approaches based on biosensor technology, especially involving nanotechnological structures, have been developed in all stages of the research cycle from proof-of-concept, to prototype, to early clinical trials. Apart from technical and commercial constraints in developed countries, shifting from lab-based molecular analysis to point-of-care testing faces many ethical concerns and obstacles. Although this is less so for the diagnosis of infectious than genetic diseases [2]. Nanotechnology represents a promising approach to develop and utilize novel and improved tests to diagnose dermatological infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Mycology/Microbiology Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal

    Fernando Sérgio Rodrigues Ribeiro Teles & Maria da Luz Martins

  2. Centre for Malaria and Tropical Diseases (CMDT), IHMT, UNL, Lisboa, Portugal

    Fernando Sérgio Rodrigues Ribeiro Teles

  3. Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos (CREM), UNL, Caparica, Portugal

    Maria da Luz Martins

  4. Serviço de Dermatologia, Hospital Curry Cabral, Rua da Beneficência, 8, 1069-166, Lisboa, Portugal

    Maria Raquel Vieira

  5. IBB—Instituto de Biotecnologia e Bioengenharia, DBE—Bioengineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

    Luís Joaquim Pina da Fonseca

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  1. Fernando Sérgio Rodrigues Ribeiro Teles
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  2. Maria da Luz Martins
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  3. Maria Raquel Vieira
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  4. Luís Joaquim Pina da Fonseca
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fernando Sérgio Rodrigues Ribeiro Teles .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Dermatology, UNC School of Medicine, 3100 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill, 27554, North Carolina, USA

    Adnan Nasir

  2. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, 10451, USA

    Adam Friedman

  3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, 10065, USA

    Steven Wang

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Teles, F.S.R.R., da Luz Martins, M., Vieira, M.R., da Fonseca, L.J.P. (2013). Nanotechnology for the Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections. In: Nasir, A., Friedman, A., Wang, S. (eds) Nanotechnology in Dermatology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5034-4_20

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