Unleashing the potential of cell membrane-based nanoparticles for COVID-19 treatment and vaccination

Abstract

Introduction : Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a particular coronavirus strain responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), accounting for more than 3.1 million deaths worldwide. Several health-related strategies have been successfully developed to contain the rapidly-spreading virus across the globe, toward reduction of both disease burden and infection rates. Particularly, attention has been focused on either the development of novel drugs and vaccines, or by adapting already-existing drugs for COVID-19 treatment, mobilizing huge efforts to block disease progression and to overcome the shortage of effective measures available at this point. Areas covered : This perspective covers the breakthrough of multifunctional biomimetic cell membrane-based nanoparticles as next-generation nanosystems for cutting-edge COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccination, specifically cell membrane-derived nanovesicles and cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, both tailorable cell membrane-based nanosystems enriched with the surface repertoire of native cell membranes, toward maximized biointerfacing, immune evasion, cell targeting and cell-mimicking properties. Expert opinion : Nano-based approaches have received widespread interest regarding enhanced antigen delivery, prolonged blood circulation half-life and controlled release of drugs. Cell membrane-based nanoparticles comprise interesting antiviral multifunctional nanoplatforms for blocking SARS-CoV-2 binding to host cells, reducing inflammation through cytokine neutralization and improving drug delivery toward COVID-19 treatment.

Macrophage Cell Membrane‐Cloaked Nanoplatforms for Biomedical Applications

“…The ongoing pandemic crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a serious global health problem, in which the absence of specific therapeutic regimens greatly contributes to the high mortality and morbidity associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [26,159] Alveolar macrophages are a crucial primary line of defense against invaders, which express specific membrane receptors involved in cytokine uptake and binding of the spike protein on the coronavirus surface, thus suppressing virus infection by diverting them from target cells and blocking viral cellular entry, while mitigating the excessive inflammatory and immune responses. In a recent effort to develop a multifunctional biomimetic nanosystem against COVID-19 infection, polymeric PLGA NP cores containing 2TPE-2NDTA, an efficient photothermal agent, were wrapped with alveolar macrophage-derived membranes (Figure 17A).…”

“…[21][22][23] This top-down approach consists of wrapping a nanostructure inner core with a thin layer of a natural cell membrane, such as those derived from red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, stem cells, bacteria, cancer cells, and others. [9,[24][25][26] This membrane cloaking approach preserves the intact proteolipid composition and the complex set of surface proteins essential for effective biointerfacing, thus endowing NPs with the desirable functionality of the parent cells. [9,23,27] The present review summarizes the latest advances and original research covering macrophage cell membrane (MCM)-coated nanoplatforms for diagnosis, therapy, and theranostics of both cancer and noncancer diseases.…”

Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles for Management of Infectious Diseases: A Review

“…On the one hand, the SARS-CoV-2-derived virulence is coupled to the target cell membrane . The cell membrane carried with viral antigens may elicit functional immunity after interval administrations, as reported for bacterial infectious diseases. , On the other hand, immunoadjuvants are also able to be carried into the nanoparticle cores or inserted into the cell membrane to expand the immune response to combat COVID-19. Therefore, it is certain that the cell membrane-coated nanoparticle-based antiviral strategy will play a pivotal role in addressing major hurdles in the future biomedical interventions of existing and emerging viruses.…”

“…Inspired by the immunization against bacterial infectious diseases, manipulating the immune response via a vaccine approach to battle SARS-CoV-2 infection has received considerable attention. 112 Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles show promising potentialities for creating nanovaccines against COVID-19 from two aspects. On the one hand, the SARS-CoV-2-derived virulence is coupled to the target cell membrane.…”

Use of Nanomaterials-based Enzymes in Vaccine Production and Immunization

“…Vассinаtiоn is considered to be the most рrоmising anticoronavirus strategy since the vассines produced to combat this virus possess а strоng antigen presentation and gооd аntigen enhаnсement. Nаnораrtiсles аre used аs саrriers оf vассines in the targeted delivery of antigens and can be converted into inhibitors to enhаnсe the immune resроnse [74,77,78]. Exаmрles inсlude the mRNА transported by the liроsоmo nаnораrtiсle [79][80][81] tо the сytорlаsm оf trаррed сells, where it can be synthesized into antigen рrоteins to initiate the рrоduсtiоn of antibodies.…”