"Nanotechnology in the Battle Against HCV: Innovations in Diagnosis and Therapy"

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) continues to affect millions globally, posing significant public health challenges. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) such as sofosbuvir and daclatasvir revolutionized HCV therapy with high cure rates and fewer side effects compared to older treatments. However, ongoing research has led to the development and FDA approval of newer antiviral combinations with improved efficacy, shorter treatment durations, and broader genotype coverage. A decade ago, interferon-α and ribavirin used alone or in combination were the mainstay of therapy. The limited therapy effectiveness and severe systemic side effects were the cause mainly in treatment discontinuation. Today, newer regimens are safer and more effective, yet challenges remain, including drug resistance, high costs, and limited access in low-resource settings.Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these challenges. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems can enhance liver-specific targeting, improve bioavailability, reduce systemic toxicity, and potentially enable simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. This review highlights recent advances in HCV treatment strategies, with a particular focus on the role of nanotechnology in enhancing therapeutic outcomes and diagnostic capabilities for better management of HCV infection.