A proposed insight into the anti-viral potential of metallic nanoparticles against novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)

Abstract

Background Over the last ten months since December 2019, the world has faced infectious emerging novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks that had a massive global impact affecting over 185 countries. Main body Emerging novel COVID-19 is a global health emergency on a pandemic scale that represents a terror to human health through its ability to escape anti-viral measures. Such viral infections impose a great socioeconomic burden, besides global health challenges. This imposes a pressing need for the development of anti-viral therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools that demonstrate multifunctional, target-specific, and non-toxic properties. Nanotheranostics is regarded as a promising approach for the management of different viral infections. Nanotheranostics facilitates targeted drug-delivery of anti-viral therapeutics as well as contributing to the development of diagnostic systems. Multifunctional metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as innovative theranostic agents that enable sustainable treatment and effective diagnosis. Here we have reviewed current advances in the use of theranostic metallic NPs to fight against COVID-19, and discussed the application as well as limitations associated with nanotechnology-based theranostic approaches. Conclusion This review verified the potential use of some metal-based NPs as anti-viral nanotheranostic agents. Metal-based NPs could act as carriers that enable the sustainable and targeted delivery of active anti-viral molecules, or as diagnostic agents that allow rapid and sensitive diagnosis of viral infections.

Recent advances of nanotechnology in COVID 19: A critical review and future perspective

“…More specifically, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), an optical property developed by gold (Au), silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) NP that represents a color with maximal absorbance wavelength is particularly associated with bio sensing application [99] . In particular, the degree of NP aggregation causes a change in tunable light absorption and scattering of wavelength in the visible region with a change in LSPR extinction maxima of metal NP that results in an obvious change of colloidal solution color as detected by the necked eye [100] .…”

Potentialities of bioinspired metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in biomedical sciences

“… 257 Therefore, it has become necessary to develop rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic tools to detect viral strains and control their mass spreading. 258 Many literature-based reviews have also started highlighting various impacts of SARS-CoV-2, and many types of research are dedicated to developing vaccines and sensors to combat this pandemic quickly. 259 The spread of viruses generally takes place either through direct contact or via aqueous environment.…”

“…9 . 258,270,271 These gold nanoparticle-based strips are commercially used in the lateral flow assay with a clinical sensitivity of 57 and 81%, 100% specificity, and 69 and 86% accuracy for IgG and IgM, respectively. 271 Although the major limitation possessed by this test is that it does not specify a particular strain of virus; rather, it only detects the presence of infection.…”

CeO2 Nanoparticle-Containing Polymers for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…Ceria-containing polymeric nano-and microparticles would be an effective adjuvant for antiviral vaccines [19,100,122] or drug carriers enhancing virus disease treatment (see above in Section 5.1).…”