Application prospect of polysaccharides in the development of anti-novel coronavirus drugs and vaccines

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it has spread rapidly worldwide and poses a great threat to public health. This is the third serious coronavirus outbreak in <20 years, following SARS in 2002–2003 and MERS in 2012. So far, there are almost no specific clinically effective drugs and vaccines available for COVID-19. Polysaccharides with good safety, immune regulation and antiviral activity have broad application prospects in anti-virus, especially in anti-coronavirus applications. Here, we reviewed the antiviral mechanisms of some polysaccharides, such as glycosaminoglycans, marine polysaccharides, traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides, and their application progress in anti-coronavirus. In particular, the application prospects of polysaccharide-based vaccine adjuvants, nanomaterials and drug delivery systems in the fight against novel coronavirus were also analyzed and summarized. Additionally, we speculate the possible mechanisms of polysaccharides anti-SARS-CoV-2, and propose the strategy of loading S or N protein from coronavirus onto polysaccharide capped gold nanoparticles vaccine for COVID-19 treatment. This review may provide a new approach for the development of COVID-19 therapeutic agents and vaccines.

Current Clinical Trials Protocols and the Global Effort for Immunization against SARS-CoV-2

“…A CTP is being developed based on the production of the RBD of S protein through fast-growing tobacco plant technology [ 40 ]. The use of adjuvants increases the activity of T and B cells mediated by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) [ 70 ].…”

Antiviral activity of sulfated polysaccharides from marine algae and its application in combating COVID-19: Mini review

“…It has been reported to inhibit antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ( Gomaa and Elshoubaky, 2016 ), Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) ( Besednova et al, 2019 ), chikungunya virus ( Cirne-Santos et al, 2019 ), and many other enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Also, the antiviral activity of SPs against the currently on-going pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is reported ( Chen et al, 2020 ). COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome that may cause illness in animals or humans.…”

Exploiting the Amazing Diversity of Natural Source-Derived Polysaccharides: Modern Procedures of Isolation, Engineering, and Optimization of Antiviral Activities

“…Specifically, herbal medicines and other natural product-derived phytochemicals as well reported to be potential agents against viruses of various types, also including coronaviruses as current investigations illustrated that were associated with the COVID-19 crisis [9]. In this regard, particularly the sulfated derivatives of naturally occurring polysaccharides exhibit a number of biological activities and these are highly dependent on structural compound characteristics [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Intrinsically, the composition, structure, and biological properties of polysaccharide sulfates are of deep interest for both, the basic molecular studies and the development of new products for various applications and industrial production.…”