Biomedical nanoparticle design: What we can learn from viruses

Abstract

Viruses are nanomaterials with a number of properties that surpass those of many synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications. They possess a rigorously ordered structure, come in a variety of shapes, and present unique surface elements, such as spikes. These attributes facilitate propitious biodistribution, the crossing of complex biological barriers and a minutely coordinated interaction with cells. Due to the orchestrated sequence of interactions of their stringently arranged particle corona with cellular surface receptors they effectively identify and infect their host cells with utmost specificity, while evading the immune system at the same time. Furthermore, their efficacy is enhanced by their response to stimuli and the ability to spread from cell to cell. Over the years, great efforts have been made to mimic distinct viral traits to improve biomedical nanomaterial performance. However, a closer look at the literature reveals that no comprehensive evaluation of the benefit of virus-mimetic material design on the targeting efficiency of nanomaterials exists. In this review we, therefore, elucidate the impact that viral properties had on fundamental advances in outfitting nanomaterials with the ability to interact specifically with their target cells. We give a comprehensive overview of the diverse design strategies and identify critical steps on the way to reducing them to practice. More so, we discuss the advantages and future perspectives of a virus-mimetic nanomaterial design and try to elucidate if viral mimicry holds the key for better NP targeting.

Nano-engineered tools in the diagnosis, therapeutics, prevention, and mitigation of SARS-CoV-2

“…Vaccination can be the best way to produce ‘herd immunity’ and stop the spread of this pandemic. The vaccines can be of the following types based on their active components [ 8 ]. Inactivated vaccine Attenuated vaccine Peptide and protein vaccine Outer membrane based vaccine Nucleic acid based vaccine Non-replicating viral vaccine Replicating viral vaccine Virus like particle vaccine …”

“…Coronaviruses are characterized by three glycoproteins (1) Spike protein (2) Membrane (3) envelope protein [ 7 ]. Nanotechnology has continuously been used to detect viral genome of corona, influenza, HIV, hepatitis, dengue and Nipah viruses [ 8 ]. Multiple nano-technological carriers have been used to develop novel vaccines against earlier outbreaks of coronaviruses.…”

Targeted Delivery of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase (sGC) Activator Cinaciguat to Renal Mesangial Cells via Virus-Mimetic Nanoparticles Potentiates Anti-Fibrotic Effects by cGMP-Mediated Suppression of the TGF-β Pathway

“…The NP system is based on a virus-mimetic presentation of two ligands that selectively recognize mesangial surface components and enable a reliable discrimination of mesangial sites and possible off-targets. Inspired by its biological model, human adenovirus type 2 [ 40 ], the NP thereby interacts with the cell surface in a sequential manner of initial binding to the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1r) via an AT1r blocker (EXP3174), followed by a presentation of previously shielded cyclic amino acid sequence (cRGD) that activates mesangial surface integrin α v β 3 and eventually triggers cell endocytosis ( Figure 1 a) [ 41 ].…”

Exploiting Peptide Self-Assembly for the Development of Minimalistic Viral Mimetics

“…Designed bio-nanomaterials are often inspired by basic processes found in nature such as molecular recognition and self-assembly ( Lehn, 2002 ; Whitesides and Grzybowski, 2002 ; Yang et al, 2020a ). Viruses present a great source of inspiration for the design of life-like materials ( Whitesides, 2015 ; Maslanka Figueroa et al, 2021 ) as they constitute simple, yet sophisticated supramolecular assemblies that contain genetic code and present well-defined rod-like or spherical morphologies. In addition, they show the ability to self-replicate, respond to physical and chemical stimuli, adapt to the environment, and evade the immune system which makes them ideal candidates to be manipulated and repurposed.…”