SARS-CoV-2 and its new variants: a comprehensive review on nanotechnological application insights into potential approaches

Abstract

spreads and develops quickly worldwide as a new global crisis which has left deep socio-economic damage and massive human mortality. This virus accounts for the ongoing outbreak and forces an urgent need to improve antiviral therapeutics and targeted diagnosing tools. Researchers have been working to find a new drug to combat the virus since the outbreak started in late 2019, but there are currently no successful drugs to control the SARS-CoV-2, which makes the situation riskier. Very recently, new variant of SARS-CoV-2 is identified in many countries which make the situation very critical. No successful treatment has yet been shown although enormous international commitment to combat this pandemic and the start of different clinical trials. Nanomedicine has outstanding potential to solve several specific health issues, like viruses, which are regarded a significant medical issue. In this review, we presented an up-to-date drug design strategy against SARS-CoV-2, including the development of novel drugs and repurposed product potentials were useful, and successful drugs discovery is a constant requirement. The use of nanomaterials in treatment against SARS-CoV-2 and their use as carriers for the transport of the most frequently used antiviral therapeutics are discussed systematically here. We also addressed the possibilities of practical applications of nanoparticles to give the status of COVID-19 antiviral systems.

Application of nanomaterials against SARS-CoV-2: An emphasis on their usefulness against emerging variants of concern

“…Nanovaccines-boosted immunity Using antigen-colloidal gold complex as a vaccine boosted T cell proliferation tenfold more than using only the free antigen, which improved respiratory macrophage performance and boosted protection Raja et al (2021) Zinc oxide nanoparticles Inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in water ZnO nanoparticle is commonly used for wastewater disinfection, and in the presence of sunlight, it is reported to be more efficacious Al-Gheethi et al (2020) Silver nanoparticles Used as a surface disinfectant Silver is used as antimicrobial, silver atoms bind with thiol (SH) and disulfide (S-S) groups present in bacterial cell membrane proteins, causing membrane disruption and necrobiosis Ghedini et al (2021) Iron oxide nanoparticles Used to make eye-protecting glasses Iron oxide nanoparticles coated glasses reduce SARS-CoV-2 viability up to 90%, exhibit antiviral effects, and prevent the spread of the virus (Dhama et al, 2021;Mohapatra et al, 2021) ACE2 proteins coated nanoparticles Used to make gloves SARS-CoV-2 enters the body through the conversion of ACE2 receptors. Due to this, the ACE2 proteins coated on nanoparticles are used to make gloves helpful in the control of infection Frontiers in Nanotechnology frontiersin.org…”

Recent Development of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)-Based Materials for Antibacterial Applications: A Review

“…Worldwide demand for antimicrobial materials is rapidly increasing due to the spreading of diseases related to bacteria and viruses. Indeed, contaminated surfaces expand the spread and transmission of epidemics . The extent of these micro­organisms occurs through water or air directly and via surface to surface indirectly .…”

“…Indeed, contaminated surfaces expand the spread and transmission of epidemics. 1 The extent of these microorganisms occurs through water or air directly and via surface to surface indirectly. 2 Enormous amounts of those microbes can harm human life and are a leading cause of death.…”

Rapid Assessment of Biological Activity of Ag-Based Antiviral Coatings for the Treatment of Textile Fabrics Used in Protective Equipment Against Coronavirus

“…In recent decades, the application of nanotechnology has created a great revolution in biomedical, hygienic, and health fields. With unique physicochemical and biological properties resulting from nanoscale dimensions, nanomaterials are practical tools for numerous applications, including diagnostic chemical sensing, cellular imaging, drug and gene delivery, therapeutics, and tissue engineering. − Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) (e.g., Ag) have been widely utilized in the biomedical field, especially for antibacterial and antiviral applications over the last decades, which are generally less expensive and less hazardous than other commonly used compounds. ,− Like antibiotics, Ag NPs can effectively inactivate or even kill bacterial microorganisms due to their bactericidal activity, preventing their spreading and infection. It was reported in our recent book that they can damage bacteria through six different mechanisms: (i) destruction of the cell wall and the peptidoglycan layer; (ii) release of toxic ions; (iii) destruction of proton efflux bombs and modification of membrane charges; (iv) formation of a cell wall degrading reactive oxygen species (ROS); (v) degradation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and proteins by ROS; and (vi) low production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) .…”