Rouhallah Rahmanyar

10 Sunny Glenway Toronto, Ontario

Rouhallah101@gmail.com

Kevin Gingerich

4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3

To whom it may concern,

The report, The Usage of Nanotechnology against HIV, is attached to the following
document. It was agreed upon March 10, 2020.

The report covers topics in relation to nanotechnology and the battle in eradication of
HIV. Its primary focus is on how nanotechnology can be used in numerous ways to help in the
process of HIV control and eradication. For example, nanotech being infused with other drugs to
improve performance.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me at
Rouhallah101@gmail.com. I appreciate the time spent reading this and hope you find it
valuable.

Sincerely,

Rouhallah Rahmanyar

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The Usage of Nanotechnology against HIV
February 24,2020

Rouhallah Rahmanyar

216213787

York University

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Executive Summary
HIV is a virus that affects the immune system. The virus infects white blood cells. There
are drugs that are used to slow down the infection rate, but not eradicate it. This is because
standard drugs cannot penetrate all HIV-1 sanctuaries in the body.

With the use of nanotechnology, it is easier to penetrate these areas and eradicate HIV-
1 cells, practice better gene therapies, and deliver vaccines more efficiently. With
advancements in the nanotechnology field, eventually a cure can be created to eradicate HIV.

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction and Background……………………………………………………………………….7
1.1 HIV Definition………………………………………………………………………………...7
1.2 HIV Spread, Symptoms, and Effect……………………………………………………….7
2.0 Nanotechnology………………………………………………………………………………………8
2.1 Nanotechnology Definition……………………………………….…………………………8
3.0 Discussion…………………………………………………………….………………………………8
3.1 Nano-formulation…………………………………………………………………………….8
3.2 Nano-formulation Pros/Cons……………………………………………………………...10
3.3 Nanocarrier-based Gene Delivery………………………………………………………..10
3.4 Vaccine Delivery………………………………………………………………..................11
4.0 Conclusion….………………………………………………………………………………………..12
5.0 References…………………………………………………………………………………………..13

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List of Figures
Figure 1: HIV Diagnoses United States [2]: ……………………………………………………….…..7

Figure 2: Human Body Diagram [5] ……………………………..……………………………………..8

Figure 3: Nano-carrier diagram [6] ………………………………….………………………………..10

Figure 4: Gene Therapy Diagram [8] ……………………………………..………………….…...….10

Figure 5: Nanoparticle HIV vaccine [10]………………………………………………………………11

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List of Tables
Table 1: HIV sanctuary and drug use chart [4] ……………………………………………………….9

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1.0 Introduction and Background
1.1 HIV Definition
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a virus that causes damage to the immune
system. HIV infects white blood cells, “CD+4” specifically. These cells are important to the
immune system because they play a vital role in fighting infections. HIV eventually causes
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There are two types of aids, first being HIV-1, which
causes majority of AIDS. The second one is HIV-2, which causes another AIDS like sickness.[1]

1.2 HIV Spread, Symptoms and Effect

HIV is passed on by having unprotected sex with an infected person, using needles
infected with HIV, and through pregnancy. Symptoms include fevers, sore throats, headaches,
muscle pain, and skin rash. A doctor can diagnose HIV by running blood, saliva, and urine tests.
[1]

It is of major importance that HIV issues are addressed, for people’s lives are impacted.
This infectious virus can cause deterioration of health and death. It is important to deal with this
issue quickly, for it spreads at an increasing rate.

Over one million people are living in the United States with HIV currently, and majority
are unaware of it. This is because HIV symptoms are sometimes mistaken for other viruses like
the flu. By 2018, cases found in ages between 14-24 have decreased while cases between 25-
34 have increased. Cases of HIV have decreased from drug injections and heterosexual people
and has remain the same for homosexual men [2]. Based on these statistics, a new treatment is
needed for HIV.
Percentage of New HIV Diagnoses in the U.S. and
Dependent Areas by Region, 2018:

Figure 1: HIV Diagnoses United States [2]

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2.0 Nanotechnology
2.1 Nanotechnology Definition
Nanotechnology is the is the study and work of material in a small scale. The scale being
as small as 100nm. “Nano-technology mainly consists of the processing of separation,
consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule” said Norio Taniguichi
who studied at Tokyo Science University and invented the term “nanotechnology”. [3]

3.0 Discussion
3.1 Nano-formulation
The treatment of HIV is still a challenge in the world of engineering and science. The
strongest drugs used to treat HIV-1, are still not able to completely stop production and spread
of the virus in the body. This is because some HIV-1 sanctuaries are in protected sites which do
not allow fluids to pass through easily being, the central nervous system, gut-associated
lymphoid tissue, genital tract, and lymph nodes. Antiretroviral drugs cannot pass through these
areas, which allow HIVs to spread freely. The use of nanotechnology can improve the ways
drugs are absorbed and circulate the body to enter HIV sanctuaries. [4]

Figure 2: Human Body Diagram [5]

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 The central nervous system is most studied area when it comes to bioavailability in
antiretroviral drugs. Nano-formulation allows antiretroviral drugs to break through and reach
protected anatomical areas like the central nervous system and blood brain barrier. [4]

Table 1: HIV sanctuary and drug use chart [4]

In 2008, the design of a transferrin-conjugated quantum rod was invented to target the
blood brain barrier. It is a nanoparticle that was able to cross an in vitro blood brain barrier
model by exploiting a receptor-mediated transport. In vitro testing is when biological materials
are tested in tubes and models. The nanoparticle was then tested with another HIV medication
called “Saquinavir” in an in vitro and showed that penetrating the blood brain barrier was easier
then using drugs alone. [4]

Cellular HIV sanctuaries include latently infected CD4+ cells and macrophages. To
attack HIV on the cellular level, nanotechnologies target CD4+ receptors. Anti-CD4-targeted
immunoliposome, which is a drug delivery method that allows drugs to work on tissue, that is
mixed with saquinavir and nevirapine, has been developed which shows a better rate at which
the drugs work and get into CD4+ Jurkat T cells. It also made it possible to use a lower
concentration of drugs and do a better job. [4]

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3.2 Nano-formulation Pros/Cons
One of the down sides of using antiretroviral drugs is that it can cause side effects such
as neurocognitive disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and liver injury. With nanotechnology, it
has been made possible to make incompatible drugs be taken simultaneously. This could
potentially decrease side effects of such drugs. For example, a triple antiretroviral drug that
uses lipid nanoparticles has been proven to show better effects on drug exposure, then just
using ordinary methods. [7]

Figure 3: Nano-carrier diagram [6]

3.3 Nanocarrier-based Gene Delivery

Gene therapy is a common treatment for HIV. Nanocarrier-based gene delivery

technology has the chance to improve these methods for it can lower risks and decrease side
effects. It has been proven that nanocarriers are a safe way to deliver genes, for they are non
viral vectors. Viral vector gene therapy is a more toxic solution compared to nanocarriers
because they can be off target, have high transfection efficiency, and have immunogenicity
effects. [7]

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Figure 4: Gene Therapy Diagram [8]
3.4 Vaccines Delivery

Nanoparticles are being used in vaccines as adjuvants. This helps vaccine delivery
because when antigens are released into the body, adjuvants can help control them and help
the immune system respond better. Another benefit with the use of nanoparticle vaccine
delivery is the various options it gives to receive the vaccine. The normal method is
intramuscularly delivery. Nanoparticles can allow oral and nasal delivery of vaccines.[9]

Figure 5: Nanoparticle HIV vaccine [10]

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4.0 Conclusion
The use of nanotechnology can improve the practice of HIV eradication. Nanotechnology
is used to attack HIV sanctuaries located throughout the body through nano-formulation. Nano-
formulation is the mix of antiretroviral drugs and nanotechnology. For example, nanotechnology
infused with drugs like Saquinavir can make the penetration of these sanctuaries easy, which in
result will eradicate HIV-1 cells more effectively. Nanocarrier-based gene therapy can lower side
effects and risks of therapy. They are also a less toxic way of treatment. Vaccine delivery is
more effective and efficient with nanoparticles. It also allows vaccines to be delivered through
other entry points. Nanotechnology does have the capability of improving current HIV
treatments and is even capable of being part of the solution to completely eradicate it.

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5.0 References

[1] "HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection", HealthLink BC, 2019. [Online]. Available:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/hw151408. [Accessed: Feb. 20, 2020].
[2] "U.S. Statistics", HIV.gov, 2019. [Online]. Availablehttps://www.hiv.gov/hiv-
basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics . [Accessed: Feb. 20, 2020].
[3] "Nanotechnology - Definition and Introduction. What is nanotechnology?", Nanowerk,
2020. [Online]. Available:
https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/introduction/introduction_to_nanotechnology_1.php
[Accessed: Feb. 20, 2020].
[4] F. Corsi, “Antiretroviral Therapy through Barriers: A Prominent Role for Nanotechnology in
HIV-1 Eradication from Sanctuaries”, Semanticscholar, 2016 [Online serial]. Available:
https://air.unimi.it/retrieve/handle/2434/526744/911463/7-JPP2016021701.pdf [Accessed Feb.
20, 2020].
[5] V. Avettand-Fènoël, “Total HIV-1 DNA, a Marker of Viral Reservoir Dynamics with Clinical
Implications”, American Society for Microbiology, October, 2016 [Online serial]. Available:
https://cmr.asm.org/content/29/4/859 [Accessed Feb. 20, 2020].
[6] S. Cao, “Nanotechnology approaches to eradication HIV reservoirs”, ScienceDirect, June,
2018 [Online serial]. Available:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939641118303217 [Accessed Feb. 20,
2020].
[7] S. Cao, “Nanotechnology approaches to eradication HIV reservoirs”, ScienceDirect, June,
2018 [Online serial]. Available:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shijie_Cao/publication/325549373_Nanotechnology_appro
aches_to_eradicating_HIV_reservoirs/links/5c9f55b9a6fdccd46044199e/Nanotechnology-
approaches-to-eradicating-HIV-reservoirs.pdf [Accessed Feb. 20, 2020].
[8] A. Rani, “Biotechnology”, Pinterest, [Online]. Available:
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/163959242661670875/ [Accessed Feb. 20, 2020].
[9] T. Mamo, J. Shi, “Emerging nanotechnology approaches for HIV/AIDS treatment and
prevention”, NCBI, Febuary 2010, [Online serial], Available:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861897/ [Accessed Mar. 08, 2020].
[10] R. Pati, “Nanoparticle Vaccines against Infectious Diseases”, Frontiers, [Online]. Available:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02224/full [Accessed Mar. 08, 2020].

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