Nanotechnology to combat malaria

This is an active Deep Dive and we welcome your contributions! If you are currently involved or planning research activities on Nanotechnology to combat malaria please contact MESA (mesa@isglobal.org) or add your project to the database.

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In order to eliminate malaria from endemic areas new strategies, such as nanotechnology, are starting to be part of the therapeutic arsenal to fight malaria.

The term nano comes from a Greek word meaning small or dwarf, and nanotechnology is the since that allows the manipulation of objects in the nanometre scale which range in size from 1 to 100 nm. Actually, nanoparticles (NPs) are aggregates of atoms, ions and molecules.

Applied nanotechnology can contribute to discovering new vaccine formulations or diagnostic tests, more targeted treatments, more efficient vector control strategies or blocking specifically transmission stages.

The overall goal of this deep dive is to describe the landscape of current research in nanotechnology to combat malaria. This has been achieved by creating a comprehensive database of current research activities, quality checked and validated through systematically searching online databases of grants and through direct contact with expert researchers.