Nanotechnology is science, engineering and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1-100 nm. It has led to the development of nanomaterials, which behave very differently from materials with larger scales and can have a wide range of applications in biomedicine. The physical and chemical properties of materials of such small compounds depend mainly on the size, shape, composition and functionalization of the system. Nanoparticles,
carbon nanotubes,
liposomes,
polymers,
dendrimers and
nanogels, among others, can be nanoengineeried for controlling all parameters, including their functionalization with
ligands, which provide the desired interaction with the immunological system, that is dendritic cell receptors to activate and/or modulate the response, as well as specific
IgE, or effector cell receptors. However, undesired issues related to toxicity and
hypersensitivity responses can also happen and would need evaluation. There are wide panels of accessible structures, and controlling their physico-chemical properties would permit obtaining safer and more efficient compounds for clinical applications goals, either in diagnosis or treatment. The application of dendrimeric
antigens, nanoallergens and nanoparticles in
allergy diagnosis is very promising since it can improve sensitivity by increasing specific
IgE binding, mimicking
carrier proteins or enhancing signal detection. Additionally, in the case of
immunotherapy, glycodendrimers,
liposomes,
polymers and nanoparticles have shown interest, behaving as platforms of allergenic structures, adjuvants or protectors of
allergen from degradation or having a depot capacity. Taken together, the application of nanotechnology to
allergy shows promising facts facing important goals related to the improvement of diagnosis as well as specific
immunotherapy.