Introduction:

Nanoantibodies are composed solely of the variable region of the heavy chain and are obtained from some species of camelids and sharks. They have high binding capacity, high specificity, small size, high accessibility, and high tissue penetration, so they could potentially be used to treat, diagnose, and prevent several diseases.

Method:

A bibliographic review of the medical applications of nanoantibodies was carried out. Scientific articles were examined, published in English and Spanish from 2015 to 2021 in Google Academic, Elsevier, PubMed, Clinical trials, Annual Reviews, and ScienceDirect databases. Studies that showed greater value according to language, information accuracy, and publication date were preferred.

Results and discussion:

21 articles were selected to be evaluated and analyzed, of which 20 were preclinical studies and one clinical study. Nanoantibodies stand out as therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive alternatives against cancer, hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diarrhea caused by rotavirus, and COVID-19.

Conclusions:

Nanoantibodies can be very useful for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of different diseases; however, it is necessary to continue developing clinical and preclinical studies that support the safety and efficacy of these drugs.

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