The use of Antiretroviral drugs in treating HIV/ AIDS patients has enormously increased
their life spans with serious disadvantages. The virus infection still remains a public health
problem worldwide with no cure and vaccine for the viral agent until now. The use of nanoparticles
(NPs) for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS is an emerging technology of the 21st
century. NPs are solid and colloid particles with 10 nm to <1000 nm size range; although, less than
200 nm is the recommended size for nanomedical usage. There are NPs with therapeutic capabilities
such as liposomes, micelles, dendrimers and nanocapsules. The particle enters the body mainly
via oral intake, direct injection and inhalation. It has been proven to have potentials of advancing
the prevention and treatment of the viral agent. Certain NPs have been shown to have selftherapeutic
activity for the virus in vitro. Strategies that are novel are emerging which can be used
to improve nanotechnology, such as genetic treatment and immunotherapy. In this review, nanoparticles,
the types and its characteristics in drug delivery were discussed. The light was furthermore
shed on its implications in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
O12.6 Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative: Advancing HIV Prevention and Treatment Through Data-Informed Research, Community-Informed Practices and Innovative Intervention Strategies