The emergency use authorization (EUA) by the US-FDA for two mRNA-based vaccines BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) has brought hope of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed more than 2 million people globally. Nanotechnology has played a significant role in the success of these vaccines. Nanoparticles (NPs) aid in improving stability by protecting the encapsulated mRNA from ribonucleases and facilitate delivery of intact mRNA to the target site. The overwhelming success of these two mRNA based vaccines with ~95% efficacy in phase 3 clinical trials can be attributed to their unique nanocarrier, the "lipid nanoparticles" (LNPs). LNPs are unique compared with bilayered liposomes and provide improved stability of the cargo, possess rigid morphology, and aid in better cellular penetration. This EUA is a major milestone and showcases the immense potential of nanotechnology for vaccine delivery and for fighting against future pandemics. Currently, these two vaccines are aiding in the alleviation of the COVID-19 health crisis and demonstrate the potential utility of nanomedicine for tackling health problems at the global level.

No abstract

COVID-19 is a highly contagious and widespread disease that has strained the global healthcare system to the hilt. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are well known for their potent antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and biosensing properties. AgNPs have been found to be potential antiviral agent that acts against many deadly viruses and is presumed to be effective against COVID-19. AgNPs can generate free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to apoptosis mediated cell death thereby inhibiting viral infection. The shape and size of AgNPs play an important role in its biomedical applications as alterations may result in variable biological interaction and activity. Herein, we propose that AgNPs can be utilized for the effective management of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by highlighting the current status of AgNPs in the fight against COVID-19.

Bilirubin has been proven to possess significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral activities. Recently, it has been postulated as a metabolic hormone. Further, moderately higher bilirubin levels are positively associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. However, due to poor solubility the therapeutic delivery of bilirubin remains a challenge. Nanotechnology offers unique advantages which may be exploited for improved delivery of bilirubin to the target organ with reduced risk of systemic toxicity. Herein, we postulate the use of intravenous or inhalation of bilirubin nanomedicine to combat systemic dysfunction associated with COVID-19 owing to the remarkable preclinical efficacy and optimistic results of various clinical studies of bilirubin in non-communicable disorders. Bilirubin nanomedicine may be used to harness the proven preclinical efficacy against COVID-19 related systemic complications.

Background: Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages because these tumours may not cause any specific symptoms, particularly in its early stages. Though specific risk actors have been identified there are no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer. However, improvements in identification of women at high risk for ovarian cancer, as well as improved imaging techniques like the USG and color Doppler along with CT Scan and MRI has increased the likelihood of early detection. Methods:The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of color and spectral Doppler in diagnosing the ovarian malignancy. A Prospective randomised study was conducted at a tertiary care centre where 50 patients with ovarian masses were selected. The study design included thorough history taking and clinical examination followed by evaluation of tumour markers. USG along with color Doppler evaluation was done followed by surgery and then corelated with histopathology. The color Doppler parameters such as vascularity, distribution of vascularity, pulsatility and resistive index were also evaluated and statistical significance assessed. Results: Color Doppler showed increased vascularity in 100% of malignant tumors in contrast to only 54.24% of benign tumors. Absent blood flow in a solid tumor almost always ruled out the possibility of malignancy. Spectral Doppler helped to assess the nature of the blood vessels picked up on color Doppler. All the patients in the malignant group and 4 patients in the borderline group had PI<1.0. Remaining 6 tumors with P1 <1.0 belonged to the benign group. Out of 15 patients with PI >1.0, 13 were benign and 2 patients had borderline tumours. RI of <0.4 was seen in 8 Patients with malignancy and RI of >0.4 was seen in 26 patients with benign lesions. Conclusions: Color Doppler is a good non-invasive modality to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Vascularity is most sensitive and RI is most specific. Thus, color Doppler and spectral Doppler tremendously increased the reliability in diagnosing a malignant ovarian tumor. Color Doppler served as an important tool to rule out malignancy in solid tumors if they failed to show any intra-tumoral vascularity. B-Mode USG in combination with color Doppler and spectral Doppler is proposed as the first and foremost diagnostic modality in patients with ovarian tumor, so as to establish the definite diagnosis of malignancy early in the course of the disease.

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Coronavirus pandemic has emerged as an extraordinary healthcare crisis in modern times. The SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus has high transmission rate, is more aggressive and virulent in comparison to previously known coronaviruses. It primarily attacks the respiratory system by inducing cytokine storm that causes systemic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Decorin is a pluripotent molecule belonging to a leucine rich proteoglycan group that exerts critical role in extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly and regulating the bioactivities of cell growth, adhesion, proliferation, inflammation, and fibrogenesis. Interestingly, decorin has potent anti-inflammatory, cytokine inhibitory, and anti-fibrillogenesis effects that make it a potential candidate against the COVID-19 related complications especially in the context of lung fibrosis. Herein, we postulate that owing to its distinctive pharmacological actions and immunomodulatory effect, decorin can be a promising preclinical therapeutic agent for the therapy of COVID-19.

No abstract