Recent advances in development of nanomedicines for multiple sclerosis diagnosis

Biomed Mater. 2021 Feb 17;16(2):024101. doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/abddf4.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a high morbidity and disease burden. It is characterized by the loss of the myelin sheath, resulting in the disruption of neuron electrical signal transmissions and sensory and motor ability deficits. The diagnosis of MS is crucial to its management, but the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity are always a challenge. To overcome this challenge, nanomedicines have recently been employed to aid the diagnosis of MS with an improved diagnostic efficacy. Advances in nanomedicine-based contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging scanning of MS lesions, and nanomedicine-derived sensors for detecting biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid biopsy, or analyzing the composition of exhaled breath gas, have demonstrated the potential of using nanomedicines in the accurate diagnosis of MS. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in the application of nanomedicines for the diagnosis of MS and concludes with perspectives of using nanomedicines for the development of safe and effective MS diagnostic nanotools.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Gadolinium / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Myelin Sheath / pathology
  • Nanomedicine / methods*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology
  • Neurology / trends*
  • Precision Medicine / methods*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Gadolinium