Evaluation of silver nanoparticles for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers: In vitro and in vivo

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital areas is of a particular concern, since the close interaction between health care personnel and patients diagnosed with COVID-19, which allows virus to be easily spread between them and subsequently to their families and communities. Preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel is essential to reduce the frequency of infections and outbreaks during the pandemic considering that they work in high-risk areas. In this research, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were tested in vitro and shown to have an inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection in cultured cells. Subsequently, we assess the effects of mouthwash and nose rinse with ARGOVIT® silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 contagion in health workers consider as high-risk group of acquiring the infection in the General Tijuana Hospital, Mexico, a hospital for the exclusive recruitment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. We present a prospective randomized study of 231 participants that was carried out for 9 weeks (during the declaration of a pandemic). The "experimental" group was instructed to do mouthwash and nose rinse with the AgNPs solution; the "control" group was instructed to do mouthwashes and nose rinse in a conventional way. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly lower in the "experimental" group (two participants of 114, 1.8%) compared to the "control" group (thirty-three participants of 117, 28.2%), with an 84.8% efficiency. We conclude that the mouth and nasal rinse with AgNPs helps in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel who are exposed to patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Environmentally azithromycin pharmaceutical wastewater management and synergetic biocompatible approaches of loaded azithromycin@hematite nanoparticles

“…Also, as the use of the nanoparticles as an antiviral agent, Horacio et al . 73 introduced their study for using hygiene product as mouthwash and nose rinse. The applied concentration of the silver NPs was (0.6 mg/mL) showing a high impact in decreasing the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate.…”

Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Morinda lucida leaf extract and evaluation of its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity

“…The minimum inhibition of 16 and 9 nm was obtained for ML-AgNPs and M. lucida extract, respectively, against Citrobacter. Additionally, the high susceptibility of ML-AgNPs against these organisms indicated that the synthesized ML-AgNPs could be a valuable candidate for the treatment of infectious diseases especially as it has been reported that AgNPs have proved effective against SARS-CoV-2 or the new variant COVID-19 that have claimed over 1.8 million lives (Almanza-Reyes 2021 ). Thus, exploiting the use of readily available green plants for the synthesis of nanoparticles could create wealth and proffer solutions to problems ravaging mankind in the health sector.…”

Disinfection and decontamination in the context of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific data

“…In a randomized‐controlled trial, both 1% povidone–iodine and 0.2% chlorhexidine reduced viral marker load and were superior to the use of a distilled water control 182 . In a randomized trial of a silver nanoparticle suspension for oral and nasal rinsing and prevention, some early success was reported 184 . Another study showed a reduction in oral virus with cetylpyridinium chloride, but not povidone–iodine, and yet, others have suggested value in using povidone–iodine in a treatment format 169,173 .…”

“…Formulations including hydrogen peroxide, benzalkonium chloride, dequalinium chloride, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, octenidine dihydrochloride, povidone–iodine, alkaline solutions, ethanol, hexetidine, cyclodextrin, polyaminopropyl biguanide, bioflavonoids, hypochlorous acid, delmopinol, silver nanoparticles, combination surfactants, essential oils, hydroxyapatite, glycyrrhizic acid, and/or sodium fluoride have been assessed. 150 , 154 , 169 , 172 , 174 , 175 , 176 , 177 , 178 , 179 , 180 , 181 , 182 , 183 , 184 , 185 , 186 Efficacy during in vitro or in vivo experiments has yielded variable results. Komine et al 175 did not find efficacy for chlorhexidine.…”