The role of nanotechnology in the treatment of viral infections

Abstract

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with viruses in particular making global impact on healthcare and socioeconomic development. In addition, the rapid development of drug resistance to currently available therapies and adverse side effects due to prolonged use is a serious public health concern. The development of novel treatment strategies is therefore required. The interaction of nanostructures with microorganisms is fast-revolutionizing the biomedical field by offering advantages in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Nanoparticles offer unique physical properties that have associated benefits for drug delivery. These are predominantly due to the particle size (which affects bioavailability and circulation time), large surface area to volume ratio (enhanced solubility compared to larger particles), tunable surface charge of the particle with the possibility of encapsulation, and large drug payloads that can be accommodated. These properties, which are unlike bulk materials of the same compositions, make nanoparticulate drug delivery systems ideal candidates to explore in order to achieve and/or improve therapeutic effects. This review presents a broad overview of the application of nanosized materials for the treatment of common viral infections.

A review on MnZn ferrites: Synthesis, characterization and applications

“…This is attributed to the fact that the choice of synthesis method provides size and chargetunability properties to the MnZn. The size tunablity ensures that large amount of drug can be delivered into anatomically privileged sites of the virus while charge tunability would facilitate entry of drug in to charged parts of the virus [260]. In addition, biosensors for the early detection of viral strains such the COVID 19 can also be developed withMnZn.…”

Masters of manipulation: Viral modulation of the immunological synapse

“…In recent years, the use of nanoparticles in vaccine delivery has become a popular area of research. Drugs, vaccines, and even genes can be encapsulated and delivered to target sites within the body using vehicles such as liposomes, nanospheres/capsules, and micelles (Saravanan et al, ; Singh, Kruger, Maguire, Govender, & Parboosing, ). In addition, the controlled release, targeted delivery to specific cells or tissues, and greater efficacy produce a potent cell‐mediated and humoral response.…”

“…Advances in vaccine development via ligand delivery or creation of virus‐like particles have led to several promising treatments for a range of viral infections including HIV‐1, HCV, hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, and influenza. Several reviews on the topic detail the current advances (Aikins, Bazzill, & Moon, ; Singh et al, ; Sulczewski, Liszbinski, Romao, & Rodrigues Junior, ).…”

Nano-based approach to combat emerging viral (NIPAH virus) infection

“…Moreover, their application in biomedical science is still lurking, and should be prioritized in order to bridge the gap. Additionally, the efficacy of conventional therapies is gradually fading away specifically in case of viral infections due to the development of resistance, 1 which could be certainly due to accelerated adaptation in peripheral protein sequence resulting in newfangled viral strain. Van Woensel et al for instance have stated that viruses are the ubiquitous causes of lower respiratory tract disease in babies and youngsters.…”

“…The capacity to channelize through translucently breachable blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-air barrier (BAB), tunability and targeted control discharge are chief exclusive points which qualify them to be novel candidate for their utilization in biomedical therapy (antiviral). 1,12 The focal point of present review paper includes cellular molecular pathogenesis of NiV infection. Heterogeneous forms of nano-based approaches used as a means of therapy or diagnostic against other viruses, and finally, provised the future possibilities for nanotechnology in concern with the NiV detection and inhibition.…”