Nanomedicine based Therapuetics

The shortcomings of current treatment of AIDS range from undesirableside effects incomplete eradication of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) and an increase in the emergence of drug resistant viral strains.Owing to these limitations there has been a paradigm shift in the approachof researchers as they now focus on the development of new drugs. Moreconvenient drugs will have enhanced activity lesser or no side effectsand satisfactory delivery potential. Various approaches under investigationuse biomolecules and metals and/or synthetic compounds with thepotential to inhibit viruses or affect their binding sites on the host cells.Techniques such as gene therapy or metal-based therapy emerge from thisconcept and have so far contributed promising results for the control ofthe HIV virus. This chapter explores current developments in gene andmetal-based therapies (enhanced by nanotechnology) with respect to thedesign of effective drugs for the treatment of HIV infection.