The role of nanotechnology in the fight against COVID-19

Nanomedicine is a very powerful device with the ability to alleviate the burden of disease by administering nanoparticle-based carriers and vaccines. A recent review by a team of interdisciplinary researchers highlighted its role in diagnosis, therapy, strategies and future prospects for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Appears in the magazine Nanomedicine, the review summarized the interesting advances made using mixed nanomaterials (polymeric, self-assembled and peptide-based inorganic materials) towards prevention, diagnosis and COVID-19 treatment.

COVID-19 is caused by acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) syndrome, the novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. RNA-positive betacoronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the largest group of viruses, the Nidovirales order, Cornidovirineae suborder and Coronaviridae family. The main features of the virus include rapid mutation, altered acute tropism, transgender transmission and adaptation to various epidemiological conditions.

To date, the SARS-CoV-2 has captured more than 118 million people worldwide and killed more than 2.6 million. Due to the high rate of transmission and susceptibility of the virus, severe mitigation measures, such as office closures, remoteness, locking measures, and travel restrictions, have been adopted worldwide. This disrupted normal activity in many areas, with devastating social and economic impacts.

As vaccines are being developed at an unprecedented pace – with some already agreed and rolled out – there is still a need for therapeutic advances that could reduce the incidence of serious disease in those who are vaccinated. the viruses.

COVID-19 is a heterogeneous disease, causing a number of clinical manifestations – a major challenge for healthcare professionals in identifying the cause and treating the patients. Many approaches, strategies, and technologies are needed to understand host-pathogen interactions and the disease, to make the best assessments, and to design effective drugs and treatments.

To date, nanotechnology-based devices have been reported to be effective in preclinical studies against a number of pathogens, including respiratory viruses, herpes viruses, human papillomavirus and HIV. In this context, nanotechnology is drawing immediate focus to assist the COVID-19.

The nanotechnology-based strategies for COVID-19 disease control include the development of tools for rapid, accurate and sensitive diagnosis, development of communication detection devices, effective disinfection, delivery of mRNA vaccines into human cells and antiviral delivery. agents into the body.

Nanomaterials are less than one micrometer in size, falling in the nano-regime. This small size is relative to the size of the virus itself, providing nanomaterials with effective action properties in combating it. The small size also provides a high surface-to-volume ratio, allowing the nanomaterial to be a good cargo delivery locations, promoting targeted drug delivery and gene modification and also enhancing interactions between analyst and sensor (allows fast and accurate virus detection).

Such nanoparticle-based carriers address concerns such as cargo contamination, lack of bioavailability or rapid cleansing of the delivery of drugs, genes and proteins to the patient’s body.

Metal nanoparticles such as silver, copper and titanium dioxide are alternatives currently used as chemical disinfectants. The specific physical and chemical properties of the granules in the nano-size range can be widely used in designing strategies against COVID-19.

Nanotechnology-based treatment for COVID-19 infections

The reviewers summarized the strategies for the development of modern nano-therapeutic products to improve the efficacy of COVID-19 treatment. These included the manufacture of polymeric nanoparticles with fast and high mucus guiding properties, the development of bioavailable, non-toxic and stable nanoparticles that can be utilized in the lung with minimal toxicity lungs during treatment, surface modification of nanoparticles by binding PEG as capping agent and targeting groups to reduce therapeutic adverse effects. The researchers have listed the active and effective nanostructured antiviral substances in the review.

The role of nanotechnology in vaccine development

A new generation of vaccines, called nanovaccines, has been developed, using nanoparticles to deliver antigens into the human body. It has been shown that nanoparticles can target both altered immune systems (T cells, B cells) and tissue immune systems (macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils) at the cellular level. The nanoparticles can deliver or be sexual enhancers, with a physical load of antigens.

The COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccines (manufactured by BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna) are encapsulated in well-charged lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), enabling anti-contamination by RNase-mediated, stable self-assembled particles that can be injected with different routes.

Other suitable vehicles for mRNA delivery are cationic polymer nanoparticles, polyethyleneimine, oil-in-water (O / W) cationic nanoemulsion and dendrimer nanoparticles of PEG-lipid action.

Nanomaterial applications in the diagnosis of COVID-19

Metallic nanoparticles are mainly for diagnostic purposes rather than treatment. Based on changes in surface plasmon repositioning, it is possible to detect selective naked eyes of COVID-19 when the AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) with antisense oligonucleotides interact with RNA samples within just 10 min. This can detect and track the number of advanced COVID-19 cases without the need for any advanced instrumentation tools and equipment.

Future strategies with nanotechnology for COVID-19

In discussing the unresolved concerns, the reviewers identified the highly aggressive RNA viruses that require a quick hardening approach to deal with them. Overall, there is no certainty about the deep place of nanotechnology and nanotechnology, but these promising products could cause serious issues in lung and respiratory systems, the reviewers warned. However, successful combination therapies that may incorporate nano-drug delivery systems could be effective alternatives to heterogeneous COVID-19 resistance.