Recent Advances on Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coronavirus Infections

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is exponentially spreading across the world, leading to an outbreak of serious viral pneumonia. Antiviral therapies using chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and favipiravir have been approved by several countries to increase the quality of life of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Currently, several companies are intensively working on the production of coronavirus (CoV) vaccines, resulting in some specific vaccines that have been approved for CoV infections in humans. Nevertheless, efficient and specific prevention, treatment, and diagnosis are urgently required to combat the biological diversity and rapid mutation in CoV infections. Recently, significant attention has devoted to nanoformulation or nanoparticles (NPs) due to their specific features like high surface-to-volume ratio, drug encapsulation abilities, and specific optical properties to remove the complications of applied conventional therapeutic and diagnosis options. In this regard, NPs are increasingly used as new anti-CoV agents, vaccine carriers or adjuvants, and nanoscale biorecognition elements. The present review article provides a comprehensive discussion on the recent updates regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of different CoV infections with an emphasis on the application of NPs in vaccination, treatment, and diagnosis of CoV infections.

Advances and Perspectives in the Use of Carbon Nanotubes in Vaccine Development

“…In this context, understanding nanomaterial interactions with the immune system facilitates the development of specific strategies for immunotherapies. 19 , 55 …”

“… 132 The use of CNTs in the development of nanovaccines represents the “holy grail” in the battle against different diseases, including infections with viruses such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. 26 , 29 , 55 Therefore, investigating CNT applications related to the immune system is essential to guide the development of nanovaccine research. 106 …”

“…132 The use of CNTs in the development of nanovaccines represents the "holy grail" in the battle against different diseases, including infections with viruses such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. 26,29,55 Therefore, investigating CNT applications related to the immune system is essential to guide the development of nanovaccine research. 106 Depending on their size and type of functionalization, CNTs have the potential to activate immune system cells, including monocytes, macrophages and DCs, which are essential to induce the innate immune response.…”

“…The efficacy, stability, and safety of nanoscale-based systems for both prevention and diagnosis must be evaluated to ensure their clinical relevance. 55 Several studies are in progress to allow approaches using nanotechnology to offer interesting systems that can address major public health challenges, promoting achievements not only in the prevention but also in the diagnosis and treatment of different infections, especially influenza, HIV and COVID-19. 23 , 25 , 39 …”

Could Nanotechnology Help to End the Fight Against COVID-19? Review of Current Findings, Challenges and Future Perspectives

“…International Journal of Nanomedicine 2021:16 5726 fighting SARS-CoV-2 empirically. 45,[150][151][152] Adeleye et al, identified 15 potential ethnomedicinal herbs from different African countries for the discovery and development of therapeutic agents for COVID-19 applications. 153 Phytotherapeutics has been recognized for its better therapeutics with fewer adverse effects than modern medicines.…”