Allergies Treatment Update: Are Biodegradable Nanoparticles The Ultimate Answer?

Allergies can now be treated in a safe and effective way following a study, which showed a new technique of treating such condition through an immunotherapy method.

Allergic antigens, when coated with biodegradable nanoparticles, will be kept hidden from an overt immune reaction by the immune system. It is only through ingestion by a type of white blood cell called macrophages when the antigens within these bio-particles are released. The macrophages lead the allergen to the immune system in a specialized way in order for it not to be recognized as foreign. Hence, stopping the immune reactivity which can result in allergies.

An Allergic disease is described as an inappropriate inflammatory response to the innocuous non-infectious antigens. This allergic response leads to the activation of T helper 2 cells, which generate cytokines, like IL-13, IL-4 and  IL-5. These cytokines work on a wide range of cells, like the eosinophils, B cells, basophils, and mast cells, which induce unwanted inflammation. Modern methods to ease allergic diseases comprise of symptom control through anti-histamines, which avoid the allergen itself or the  administration of soluble antigens to change the immune response.

However, these methods come with plenty of risks such as the likelihood of adverse effects and unwanted immune suppression. The use of nanoparticles that are directly administered into the blood stream becomes the carriers of the whole-protein antigens that induces tolerance effectively. This process, as mentioned in Health Innovations, removes the possibility of nonspecific immune suppression for the treatment as well as prevention of allergic asthma.  

In the recent study, the researchers have discovered a method that can balance the immune system during any allergic response through an increased number of regulatory T cells. These are immune cells that are vital in  determining the airway allergens as normal.

Moreover, the biodegradable nanoparticle therapy puts off the dangerous Th2 T cell which results in allergy, expanding the good regulatory T cells. This process of using allergens hidden in nanoparticles to slowly and safely increase the tolerance to a specific allergic antigen that can also be likely used in the cure for other allergies aside for asthma, according to Science Business.