2025: Emily Lam

Making a Difference in the Lives of ME/CFS Patients with Nanomedicine

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) affects over 3.3 million people with many experiencing pain, headaches, lymph nodes, sore throat, chills, night sweats, nausea, cognitive difficulties, orthostatic intolerance, and sensory sensitivities. ME/CFS is a complex, chronic illness characterized by severe, long-lasting fatigue that worsens significantly after any physical or mental activity and can occur hours or days later. My research in nanomedicine seeks to make a difference in the lives of ME/CFS patients by leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles and nanoscale materials to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ME/CFS. 

One of the challenges in treating ME/CFS is the lack of clear diagnosis, and nanomedicine addresses this by enabling highly sensitive diagnostic tools (Cortes-Rivera). Nanoparticles have exceptional surface area-to-volume ratios, which makes them ideal for detection at very low concentrations and before symptoms become pronounced. For instance, my research on nanoparticles can be used in diagnostic devices that detect specific molecules associated with ME/CFS. With these tools, doctors can identify the disease earlier and improve patient outcomes with earlier intervention. 

Beyond diagnosis, nanomedicine also revolutionizes treatment options for ME/CFS patients. Current treatments are mainly symptomatic, such as pain management and cognitive therapy, but these do not address the underlying causes of the disease (Castro‐Marrero). I am also studying precision drug delivery, which can combat immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and viral infections. By engineering nanoparticles to carry therapeutic agents directly to the diseased cells, this enhances the drug’s efficacy and minimizes side effects. 

These advanced drug delivery systems offer many other advantages, such as prolonged persistence and smaller required doses, which are crucial for improving the quality of life of patients. As many ME/CFS patients show signs of immune dysfunction, including chronic inflammation, nanomedicine can also manipulate the immune system to prevent worsening conditions post-treatment (Toogood). Nanoparticles can be designed to interact with immune cells, either boosting their function to fight infection or suppressing excessive immune activity that leads to chronic inflammation.

By creating nanoparticles that target specific immune pathways involved in ME/CFS, treatments can be developed to directly modulate the immune response, offering a more precise and effective way to manage ME/CFS. In addition, nanodevices can continuously track physiological parameters, such as inflammatory markers or mitochondrial function, providing real-time data to patients and doctors. This allows for more precise treatments and improves the management of the disease over time. 

In conclusion, current research holds great promise for improving the lives of patients. Groundbreaking nanotechnology research was conducted by Rahim Esfandyarpour, PhD, in collaboration with Dr. Ronald W. Davis and his team at Stanford. Further research on a nanoneedle diagnostic tool is being done by the University of Surrey and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. These insights, along with the work of countless researchers across the globe and my contributions, will have a transformative impact on the lives of ME/CFS patients, and I am excited for the bright future ahead!

References 

Castro-Marrero, Jesus et al. “Treatment and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: all roads lead to Rome.” British Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 174, Feb. 2017, doi:10.1111/bph.13702. 

Cortes-Rivera, Mateo et al. “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review.” Diagnostics, vol. 9, Aug. 2019, 

doi:10.3390/diagnostics9030091. 

Toogood, Peter et al. “Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Where will the 

drugs come from?” Pharmacological Research, vol. 165, Mar. 2021, doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105465.