Biomimetic Nanomaterial Strategies for Virus Targeting: Antiviral Therapies and Vaccines

Abstract

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlights the importance of developing effective virus targeting strategies to treat and prevent viral infections. Since virus particles are nanoscale entities, nanomaterial design strategies are ideally suited to create advanced materials that can interact with and mimic virus particles. In this progress report, the latest advances in biomimetic nanomaterials are critically discussed for combating viral infections, including in the areas of nanomaterial-enhanced viral replication inhibitors, biomimetic virus particle capture schemes, and nanoparticle vaccines. Particular focus is placed on nanomaterial design concepts and material innovations that can be readily developed to thwart future viral threats. Pertinent nanomaterial examples from the COVID-19 situation are also covered along with discussion of human clinical trial efforts underway that might lead to next-generation antiviral therapies and vaccines.

Human respiratory viral infections: Current status and future prospects of nanotechnology-based approaches for prophylaxis and treatment

“…Bielinska et al developed nanoemulsion based vaccine adjuvant by intranasal route to induce IgG and IgA antibody responses and TH1/TH17 cellular immunity consequential to protect against a range of respiratory viral infections [ 148 ]. Nanoemulsion enclosing the recombinant H5 adjuvant was administered intranasally in mice against the avian influenza virus [ 14 ].…”

“…high drug loading or encapsulation, delivery of insoluble drugs, targeted delivery, and tunable surface charge (enhanced entry inside cells). Furthermore, they possess biomimetic properties, resulting inherent antiviral property (dendrimers, carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles) [ 14 ]. Functionalization or modification of nanoparticles is also possible by decorating with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance the circulation time and to avoid uptake by reticuloendothelial system.…”

Advanced Nanobiomedical Approaches to Combat Coronavirus Disease of 2019

“…[ 45 ] Because VLPs carry the same antigens as the parent virus, they induce the same immunogenicity. [ 46 ] In fact, because the antigen is repeated so many times in such high density, VLPs can actually amplify their immunogenicity in comparison with the parent virus. [ 45 ] VLP activation of the immune system is strong enough to provide protection for years, with the first VLP‐based vaccine for the Hepatitis E virus conferring protection for almost 5 years after the initial vaccination and VLP‐based vaccines for HPV offering protection for up to a decade.…”

Kinetic aspects of virus targeting by nanoparticles in vivo

“…Plasmonic NPs can be used in hyperthermia therapy [4]. In virology, different nanomaterial strategies for virus targeting include (i) nanomaterial-enhanced viral replication inhibitors, (ii) virus-binding NPs, (iii) cell membrane decoys binding to virions and preventing viral infection of cells, (iv) viral membrane inhibitors disrupting membrane-enveloped virions, (v) extracorporeal blood filters removing circulating virions from the bloodstream to reduce disease burden, and (vi) biomimetic nanoparticle vaccines mimicking the multivalent presentation of antigens on virion surfaces and eliciting improved immune response [5] (Fig. 1; see also Refs.…”

“…1 Schematic illustration of various strategies of the use of nanomaterials for virus targeting including (i) nanomaterial-enhanced viral replication inhibitors, (ii) virus-binding NPs, (iii) cell membrane decoys binding to virions and preventing viral infection of cells, (iv) viral membrane inhibitors disrupting membraneenveloped virions, (v) extracorporeal blood filters removing circulating virions from the bloodstream to reduce disease burden, and (vi) biomimetic nanoparticle vaccines mimicking the multivalent presentation of antigens on virion surfaces and eliciting improved immune response (adapted from Ref. [5]; copyright Wiley-VCH GmbH; reproduced with permission) from the perspective of applications in vivo, and the progress requires understanding and overcoming a series of physiological and technical obstacles including, e.g., opsonization and nonspecific protein adsorption (e.g., protein corona formation), nonspecific uptake by cells and organs comprising the immune system, etc. [1].…”