Figure 1. Different types of nanostructrures and their possible uses in allergy
Figure 2. Nanostructures in in vitro diagnostics.
Top: Examples of nanomaterials amplifying the signal detection
in immunoassays. A) Scheme of a competitive microimmunoassay on DVD. The
allergens are immobilised on the Digital Versatile Discs (DVD) surface,
to which AuNPs-labelled specific antibodies bind. The antibody-antigen
interaction is exhibited as a black precipitate after antigen
enhancement step. B) Fibre optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) probe
for detection of allergens in food. Detection step uses antibody linked
nanobeads.
Bottom: Dendrimeric Antigens as emulators of drug-protein
conjugates in the molecular recognition of in vitro tests. A) Schematic
structure of multivalent dendrimeric scaffold; B) Direct in vitro
immunoassay, in which Dendrimeric Antigens are covalently coupled to the
solid phase; C) Competitive immunossay in which poly-L-Lysine conjugated
to drug in solid phase competes for immunological recognition with
Dendrimeric Antigens in fluid phase. D) Basophil activation test using
Dendrimeric Antigens.
Figure 3. Schematic graph of immunological mechanism in
immunotherapy with nanostructures. Interaction with dendritic cells
that present the antigen to T lymphocytes, increasing Th1 regulatory
response and decreasing Th2 effector cells.
Table 1. Chemical structures of dendrimers with different applications
in allergy.