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The global pandemic COVID-19, caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as severe public health issue crippling world health care systems. Substantial knowledge has been generated about the pathophysiology of the disease and possible treatment modalities in a relatively short span of time. As of August 19, 2020, there is no approved drug for the treatment of COVID-19. More than 600 clinical trials for potential therapeutics are underway and the results are expected soon. Based on early experience, different treatment such as anti-viral drugs (remdesivir, favipiravir, lopinavir/ritonavir), corticosteroids (methylprednisolone, dexamethasone) or convalescent plasma therapy are recommended in addition to supportive care and symptomatic therapy. There are several treatments currently being investigated to address the pathological conditions associated with COVID-19. This review provides currently available information and insight into pathophysiology of the disease, potential targets, and relevant clinical trials for COVID-19.

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Treatment of brain-related diseases is one of the most strenuous challenges in drug delivery research due to numerous hurdles, including poor blood-brain barrier penetration, lack of specificity, and severe systemic toxicities. Our research primarily focuses on the delivery of natural therapeutic compound, α-asarone, for the treatment of brainrelated diseases. However, α-asarone has poor aqueous solubility, bioavailability, and stability, all of which are critical issues that need to be addressed. This study aims at formulating a lipid nanoparticulate system of α-asarone (A-LNPs) that could be used as a brain drug delivery system. The physicochemical, solid-state properties, stability, and in vitro and in vivo studies of the A-LNPs were characterized. The release of α-asarone from the A-LNPs was prolonged and sustained. After intravenous administration of A-LNPs or free αasarone, significantly higher levels of α-asarone from the A-LNPs were detected in murine plasma and brain parenchyma fractions, confirming the ability of A-LNPs to not only maintain a therapeutic concentration of α-asarone in the plasma, but also transport α-asarone across the blood-brain barrier. These findings confirm that lipid nanoparticulate systems enable penetration of natural therapeutic compound α-asarone through the blood-brain barrier and may be a candidate for the treatment of brain-related diseases.