Upon contact with non-self entities, the adaptive immune system decides between one of three response programs. The tolerance program, orchestrated by regulatory T cells (T_reg), ensures that no defense is initiated against harmless agents. If pathogens are identified, the adaptive immunity chooses between two main types of defensive responses (1). The first branch, a type 1 response, is characterized by the rapid removal of pathogens by macrophages and neutrophils, mediated by T helper 1 (T_H1) and T_H17 cells, which release pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-12. Type 1 responses are integrated seamlessly with inflammatory reactions. The role of inflammation and type 1 responses in the context of exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) is discussed elsewhere in this volume.

The second defensive branch, type 2 immunity, involves the key cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and different types of immune cells, such as basophils, eosinophils, mast cells, anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages, and T_H2 cells (1). This type of response is often connected to parasitic infections, later stages of the wound healing process, and to chronic inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and allergy (2). Of note, some NPs are known to modulate type 2 immune responses (3). This review covers applications of NPs in the context of type 2 immune responses, such as parasitic infections, wound healing, and allergy, with a special focus on therapeutic approaches.

Ancestral populations can be assumed to have been constantly subjected to parasite infections. Hence, macroparasites have played a large role in the evolution of type 2 immune responses. One particular purpose of type 2 responses is to limit the parasite load and is done so, via immunoglobulin (Ig)E type antibodies and effector cells (4). Parasitic diseases continue to be a serious health problem in large areas of the world (5). Unfortunately, there are currently no studies regarding coexposure to parasites and nanomaterials. However, nanomedical approaches have been investigated for vaccination, diagnosis, and therapy of parasitic diseases (6–8). Some studies have looked specifically at a shift between type 1 and type 2 responses, as indicated by characteristic cytokines and antibody isotypes. In particular, numerous nanomedical studies concerning malaria have been performed, including studies about the response type (7). For example, self-assembled protein NPs were used to vaccinate mice with Plasmodium sp. antigens, resulting in the development of protective type 2 responses (9).

In contrast, chondroitin nanocapsules upregulate T_H1 cytokines and downregulate T_H2 cytokines in hamsters, leading to enhanced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis that eradicates infection with Leishmania donovani (10). Similarly, the host response of mice against L. donovani was supported by artemisinin-loaded NPs that shifted the cytokine profile from type 2 to type 1 (11). This corresponds to the conventional view that Leishmania, like other microparasites, is promoted by type 2 responses and controlled by type 1 responses. However, it should be borne in mind that careful analysis of this mouse model has revealed that the prototypic T_H2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 can contribute to either the control or the exacerbation of disease (12). It is, thus, not always clear which role type 2 responses play in relation to specific parasites. NP adjuvants contribute to effective vaccination of mice against Angiostrongylus costaricensis and of pigs against Trichinella spiralis, but they do this by supporting a type 1 response in the first case and a type 2 response in the second (13, 14). Altogether, it is clear that NPs can influence the type of immune response toward a challenge, with either detrimental or protective effects for the host.

Wound healing is a natural process that repairs and regenerates damaged tissues, for example, in the skin (15), lung (16), or intestine (17). Numerous therapies have been developed to accelerate this process, involving, for example, pharmaceutics, stem cells, electrical stimulation, negative pressure, light, or radiation (15, 18–21). Furthermore, NPs, especially those with antimicrobial properties, are considered as valuable tools in accelerating the wound-healing process (22). Silver (Ag) was used for its antibacterial properties since the Roman empire, and nowadays, numerous therapeutical products containing ionic Ag or Ag NPs are on the market (22, 23). Several publications review the beneficial effects of ionic nanoparticulate Ag in wound healing (22, 24, 25). An earlier animal study by Tian et al. (26) showed that Ag NPs accelerate healing and improve cosmetic appearance of wounds in a dose-dependent manner. By analyzing bacterial growth and cytokine profiles in wound sections, the authors demonstrated the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential of Ag NPs. Microbially synthesized Ag NPs enhanced wound-healing efficiacy in rats (11, 27, 28). Using a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β receptor inhibitor, Li and coworkers proposed the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway as a mechanism of wound-healing enhancement by polyvinylalcohol/chitosan oligosaccharide Ag nanofibers (29).

Gold (Au) NPs were successful in acceleration of wound healing in combination with photobiomodulation therapy in rats (15) or in combination with the antioxidants epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and α-lipoic acid (ALA) in mice (30). The observed decrease of CD68 expression and increase of SOD1 expression around the wound area suggest that anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidative effects of the Au NP/EGCG/ALA mixture play a role in increased wound-healing efficiency (30). The inflammatory reaction in wounded skin of rats was investigated in a recent report. Phytochemically stabilized Au NPs accelerate wound healing in a process that involves alteration of the amounts of TGF-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the number of mast cells in the wounded skin sections compared to vehicle controls (31, 32). These observations indicate an involvement of the particles in type 2 immune functions during the healing process. A different approach for wound healing with Au NPs in diabetic mice, showed that spherical nucleic acid–Au NP conjugates efficiently to downregulate target genes in diabetic mice. Thus, resulting in full wound closure occurring within 12 days, compared to control wounds which were only 50% closed (33).

Aside from Ag and Au, other types of NPs, such as selenium (34), zinc oxide (35), copper oxide (36, 37), iron oxide (38), or polymeric NPs (39), were shown to be beneficial for wound healing (Table 1). Thereby, the beneficial effect is either a result of the NPs properties alone (i.e., antibacterial effects) or a combined result of the NPs with other substances. For example, TiO₂ NPs have been shown to enhance the wound-healing potential of chitosan (40), which is used as wound dressing material (41) and is currently commercially available (42). Some caution may be necessary when using very high concentrations of chitosan leading to a highly positively charged NP surface, as recently demonstrated in a study involving Au NPs (43). Increased uptake by phagocytic cells and an enhanced pro-inflammatory response were determined, rendering chitosan coating exceeding an optimal range counteractive for wound healing. Chitosan-based copper nanocomposites accelerate wound healing in rats by modulation of different cytokines and growth factors. The upregulation of VEGF, TGF-β1, and IL-10 as well as the downregulation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) indicate a shift toward type 2 immunity. An interesting approach using biodegradable NPs was published by Galili (44), who demonstrated that α-Gal NPs can accelerate the process of wound healing. The mechanism involves binding of natural anti-α-Gal antibodies to the multiple α-Gal epitopes, which then present on the NPs resulting in complement activation, recruitment, and activation of macrophages, which leads to tissue regeneration (44, 45). A summary of current therapeutic approaches for NPs is given in Table 1.

Allergy and asthma represent a global public health concern in developed countries, with a steady increase also occuring in emerging countries. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 300 million people worldwide are currently suffering from asthma, with a rising trend to increase up to 400 million by 2025 (85). Allergic diseases include the various forms of asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, angioedema, urticaria, eczema, eosinophilic disorders, such as esophagitis and life-threatening anaphylaxis, as in the case of food, insect venom, or drug allergies. Patients with allergic diseases have a significantly reduced quality of life, and even milder forms such as allergic rhinitis have a significant economic impact (86). Globally, allergic diseases affect 20–30% of the population, and in the developed countries sensitization rates of up to 50% have been reported (87).

Allergy is defined by IgE reacting specifically with non-pathogenic environmental proteins, thus, being defined as allergens (88). Presence of allergen-specific IgE in the blood of affected individuals resulting from an overshooting T_H2-driven immune response, is hence the hallmark of being sensitized (89). The sensitization process is intiated upon first contact where a variety of potential functions of allergens may be involved (90–98); however, the overall mechanism of allergic sensitization still remains to be fully established. As potential risk factors, nutrition, and hygiene have been described (99). Upon second contact with the allergen, specific IgE-loaded allergic effector cells, i.e., tissue-resident mast cells and peripheral blood basophils, degranulate due to IgE receptor cross-linking and release vasoactive mediators (histamine, tryptase, etc.). During this process, being termed the effector function, the typical allergic symptoms emerge, including vasodilation and permeation resulting in swelling, itching, and redness, characteristic of the wheal and flare reaction in rhinoconjunctivitis. Furthermore, effector cells initiate the secretion of lipid mediators (leukotrienes) and cyto-/chemokines leading to bronchoconstriction, mucus production, intestinal hypermotility, as in the case of more severe forms, such as anaphylaxis (88). Furthermore, eosinophil infiltration, chronicity, and amplification of the allergic response can lead to tissue remodeling, a characteristic of asthma (100).

Presently, few studies investigating the potential sensitization-aggravating effects of particulate matter itself or NP-associated allergens exist (101–103). Historically, research was conducted on combustion-derived particles as reviewed recently (104, 105). The interaction of allergens with engineered NPs, such as Au, Ag, ZnO, TiO₂, SiO₂, may arise at sites where such materials are handled, so risk of disease-aggravating conditions can be expected in occupational settings. Studies in mice have addressed the pro-allergic potential of Au, TiO₂, and SiO₂ NPs in contact hypersensitivity. Such reactions are characterized by a T cell-mediated delayed-type adverse response without the presence of allergen-specific IgE or airway hyperresponsiveness with eosinophil infiltration, mucous cell metaplasia, and elevated type 2 cytokine secretion (106–108). Graphene nanosheets and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been shown to induce a T_H2 immune response in mouse models when administered intravenously (109). While in human in vitro studies including fullerene or MWCNTs contrasting results were reported (110, 111). Human skin-derived mast cells and peripheral blood basophils exhibited a significant inhibition of IgE-dependent mediator release by fullerene. Furthermore, MWCNTs were shown to inhibit allergen-induced type 2 cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from house dust mite-allergic individuals, emphasizing the pro-inflammatory potential of MWCNTs which has recently been reviewed (112). In line with these reports, MWCNTs have been shown to suppress humoral immune effects in mice by a mechanism involving the activation of cyclooxygenases in the spleen in response to signals from lung (113). Accordingly, iron oxide NPs were shown to attenuate serum levels of OVA-specific IgG₁ and IgG_2a in mice (114). Protein corona formation represents a paradigm when studying the biological effects of NPs and it is well accepted that protein–NP interactions may alter the proteins’ 3D structure and hence epitope integrity (115). In the context of type 2 immune effects, IgE epitope integrity is essential. Following this rationale, allergic disease-modulating effects were investigated upon interaction of three major inhalant allergens with Au NPs (116). This study showed that increased, decreased, or similar allergenic responses may be observed, presumably depending on the orientation and accessibility of the IgE epitopes of the allergens bound to the NPs.

Not only material composition has an influence on the type of immune response but the particle size of the same material can also be decisive upon inducing either a type 1 or a type 2 immune response. Bigger particles (>100 nm) are more prone to induce a type 2 response, in comparison to smaller particles (~50 nm) that rather induce a type 1 response (117, 118). Wen et al. showed that NPs were also able to induce both a T_H1 and a T_H2 response equally when using chitosan NPs in combination with ovalbumin in mice (119). The immune responses elicited by different NPs can be diverse and are highly dependent on material and size of the particles.

During the past two decades much progress has been made in the field of molecule-based diagnostics, also termed component-resolved diagnostics (CRD), with the development of two types of serological tests involving purified natural or recombinantly produced allergen molecules, coated to particles (ImmunoCAP™) or a glass surface (ISAC™) (120–122). The higher predictive value of CRD compared to extract-based methods has been appreciated by clinicians (123, 124). These two large studies advocate that CRD improves the decision-making process during the prescription of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) due to its high specificity. AIT has been described >100 years ago and still remains the only effective treatment against allergy resulting in a shift from a type 2 immune response toward a tolerogenic state, which is characterized by the key cytokines IFN-γ, IL-10, and TGF-β and production of allergen-specific IgG₄ blocking antibodies (125–127). The potential of NPs being used for allergen therapeutics emerged from adjuvants which will be discussed next.

The idea to use adjuvants to aid in vaccination was established due to the finding that a higher specific antibody titer can be induced by an abscess at the site of inoculation (128, 129). Adjuvants comprise different classes of compounds, including microbial substances, mineral salts, emulsions, or microparticles, displaying potentiating and/or modulating effects on the human immune system, and they have even been quoted as “dirty little secrets of immunologists” (130, 131). The main desired effects of adjuvants in therapy or vaccination can be broken down into two groups. On the one hand they function as delivery vehicles of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), like dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. On the other hand, they induce an immune potentiation effect that is achieved by activation of the APCs through specific receptors, thus creating an inflammatory context (132). Adjuvants have to be safe in formulation, stable during storage, easily expelled from the body, either by being biodegradable or by efficient excretion, and furthermore, the costs of their production should to be low (133).

Aluminum hydroxide or alum has been in use as an adjuvant from as early as 1926 (134), widely used in vaccination ever since (135). Its clinical function also involves innate mechanisms established for recognition of crystals based on NLRP3 inflammasome activation (136). In the last two decades, the research into new adjuvants has increased, but many new adjuvants fall prey to local or systemic toxicity and are not suitable for the use in humans (137). A possible new approach is the use of nanosized inorganic or organic particles as an efficient antigen delivery vehicle (138, 139). Additional advantages of using NPs as adjuvants are that they can incorporate several desired effects of an adjuvant in one substance. They may (i) confer a depot function with enhanced abundance in the tissue/circulation, (ii) function as a delivery vehicle by binding the APIs and delivering them to the APCs, and (iii) be able to induce immunostimulatory effects (140). It has been demonstrated that different kinds of NPs ranging from inorganic NPs, like silica (60, 141) and gold (142), over lipids (143) to biodegradable polymeric particles (144, 145) show adjuvant potential. For some NPs the adjuvant effect is greater than that of alum (138, 141, 146).

Due to their unique properties, NPs readily bind substances like proteins, peptides, and nucleic acid vaccines (147). Those conjugates have been shown to be taken up by APCs (146, 148), and thus NPs are able to deliver the APIs to the APCs. The immune stimulatory effect of NPs has been shown, for example, using poly-γ-glutamic acid NPs and DCs (148), which facilitates the second major requirement for adjuvants—to provide a costimulatory signal for initiation of an immune response. Keeping all that in mind, several types of NPs bear the potential to act as efficient adjuvants in formulation.

In addition to spontaneous interactions of proteins (or other biological substances) with NPs, engineered nanomaterials may form a platform where various functions of different chemical entities may be combined intentionally (Figure 1). It should be stated here that in particular for nanomedical approaches the strict nano definition by “ISO/TS27687:2008 Nanotechnologies—Terminology and definitions for nanoobjects—NP, nanofibre and nanoplate” confining NPs for a size range up to 100 nm is often relaxed. Therefore, nanomedicines usually list substances of particulate matter in the submicro size range. The surface of NPs can be functionalized covalently with specific ligands including antibodies and fragments thereof or other immunologically active proteins, such as allergens. Other ligands may include peptides, nucleic acids such as immunostimulatory CpG-DNA, small inhibitory (si-)RNAs, aptamers, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules [vitamin D₃ or toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands]. Such NP conjugates may mediate (i) efficient delivery, i.e., cellular targeting and uptake, (ii) mucosal adhesion, penetration, and retention, or (iii) immunostimulatory or modulatory effects. Applied in a well-controlled manner, these ligands modify and can thus be used to opimize the safety profile, specificity, and efficacy of a vaccine candidate.

As for other mechanisms of the immune system (inflammation, type 1 response, tolerance), NPs can modulate type 2 responses in different ways. It is a task for the community, working at the border between immunology and nanotechnology, to understand the parameters leading to NP induced up- or downregulation of type 2 responses. Understanding of such concepts could enable the prediction of the outcomes of human exposure to NPs.

All four authors were involved in concept drafting, literature screening, design of display items, writing, and editing of the paper.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer, JS, and handling Editor declared their shared affiliation, and the handling editor states that the process nevertheless met the standards of a fair and objective review.