<p>Silver-Based Nanomaterials as Therapeutic Agents Against Coronaviruses: A Review</p>

Abstract

Since the identification of the first human coronavirus in the 1960s, a total of six coronaviruses that are known to affect humans have been identified: 229E, OC43, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), NL63, HKU1, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Presently, the human world is affected by a novel version of the coronavirus family known as SARS-CoV-2, which has an extremely high contagion rate. Although the infection fatality rate (IFR) of this rapidly spreading virus is not high (ranging from 0.00% to 1.54% across 51 different locations), the increasing number of infections and deaths has created a worldwide pandemic situation. To provide therapy to severely infected patients, instant therapeutic support is urgently needed and the repurposing of already approved drugs is presently in progress. In this regard, the development of nanoparticles as effective transporters for therapeutic drugs or as alternative medicines is highly encouraged and currently needed. The size range of the viruses is within 60-140 nm, which is slightly larger than the diameters of nanoparticles, making nanomaterials efficacious tools with antiviral properties. Silver-based nanomaterials (AgNMs) demonstrate antimicrobial and disinfectant effects mostly by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are presently considered as a versatile tool for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Other metal-based nanoparticles have been primarily reported as delivery agents or surface modifying agents, vaccine adjuvant against coronavirus. The present review summarizes and discusses the possible effectiveness of various surface-modified AgNMs against animal coronaviruses and presents a concept for AgNM-based therapeutic treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in the near future.

Silver nanoparticles as a potential treatment against SARS‐CoV‐2: A review

“…Among the different types of metallic NPs, the antiviral activity of silver NPs (AgNPs) on SARS‐CoV‐2 is of particular interest (Argentiere, Cella, Cesaria, Milani, & Lenardi, 2016; Das et al, 2020; Durán, Silveira, Durán, & Martinez, 2015; Hossain, 2020; Teirumnieks, Balchev, Ghalot, & Lazov, 2021). AgNPs are known for their high antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, and low toxicity in eukaryotic cells.…”

Exploring the Role of Heavy Metals and Their Derivatives on the Pathophysiology of COVID-19

“…In all of them, there are four types of proteins called spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) [5]. Only protein S can bind to the receptors [6,7] Although reports indicate that SARS-CoV-2 is more than 80% similar to the SARS genome and 50% similar to MERS, unfortunately, the SARS-CoV-2 transmission rate is much higher, but the resulting mortality rate is lower. Also, unlike SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which are more common in the hospital environment, SARS-CoV-2 is more prevalent in the community.…”

“…Today, nanoparticles have entered the field of corona control as an important issue [15], especially since the virus has a diameter of 60 to 140 nm, which is only slightly larger than nanoparticles, and this similarity in diameter is very beneficial [6]. The small size of the nanoparticles helps them to enter [1].…”

Nanobiocide Based-Silver Nanomaterials Upon Coronaviruses: Approaches for Preventing Viral Infections

“…Up to now, the effectiveness of AgNMs as an antiviral agent has been verified in humans against many viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, poliovirus, adenovirus, and monkeypox virus [ 20 ]. Recently, Das et al independently of our group reviewed the possibility of AgNMs as therapeutic agents against coronavirus and ultimately they suggested applying nanomaterials coating in personal protection equipment for the prevention of infection-associated coronaviruses [ 23 ]. In the same case, Carvalho et al reported the most common NMs with anti‐coronavirus activity against animal and human COVs (Fig.…”