Application of nanotechnology in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the fish diseases

The occurrence of the disease is one of the main threats to the intensive aquaculture system. With the development of the aquaculture industry, it is expected that the fish will encounter various infectious and non-infectious diseases. In addition to treatment costs, the use of antibiotics in the control of infectious diseases can also cause resistance in bacteria. Therefore, today, the use of additives such as vitamin and mineral supplements, probiotics, prebiotics, and various nanoparticles to improve the growth performance and health of fish, increase the performance of the fish immune system, and resistance to diseases has expanded. Nanotechnology can play a role in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases through new methods. Nanoparticles can act as diagnostic tools. Gold nanoparticles are used in antibody-based immunodiagnosis protocol. Nanosensors are also effective and easy solutions to identify pathogens. Nanomaterials are also used as nanomedicines. In this regard, the inherent properties of various forms of nanoparticles are used to improve fish health. Silver, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, copper oxide, and graphene nanoparticles are currently used to reduce the pathogenic load in the aquaculture system. Plant extracts are also used in nano form as medicine in the treatment of fish diseases. The use of nano-delivery of drugs is expanding with new features such as sustained release, regulation and control of size, shape, dispersion, and surface charge of target materials, specific location, multi-pathway delivery processes, and regulated degradation capability of the nanocarrier. Given that vaccination plays an essential role in large-scale fish farming, most of the vaccines used are stored and stored in liquid form at low temperatures and are usually administered intravenously due to their short shelf life. "Nanovaccine" is a future mass vaccination method in aquaculture due to the reduction of these limitations, and recently an ultrasound device was designed for mass vaccination of fish, where short strings of DNA-filled nanocapsules are placed in the fish pond and absorbed onto the fish cells. According to the increasing trend of studies in the field of nanotechnology, we can hope to provide other new methods in the field of health management of fish farms and prevent damages caused by the occurrence of diseases in the aquaculture industry.

Keywords:

Nanoparticle , Fish , Disease , Nanovaccine , Nanosensors , Drug delivery