Application of nanomaterials in treatment, anti-infection and detection of coronaviruses

Abstract

Nanotechnology and nanomedicine have excellent potential in dealing with a range of different health problems, including viruses, which are considered to be a serious challenge in the medical field. Application of nanobiotechnology could represent a new avenue for the treatment or disinfection of viruses. There is increasing concern regarding the control of coronaviruses, among these, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 are well known and dangerous examples. This article aims to provide an overview of recent studies on the effectiveness of nanoparticles as diagnostic or antiviral tools against coronaviruses. The possibilities of effectively using nanomaterials as vaccines and nanosensors in this field are also presented.

Keywords: COVID-19; antiviral; bio-labeling; coronaviruses; gold nanoparticles; protein nanoparticles; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus; silver nanoparticles; transmissible gastroenteritis virus; vaccine nanotechnology.

Figure 1.. Preparation of viromimetic nanoparticle vaccine and robust humoral and CD4+T cell responses.

(A) Schematic representation for the preparation of viromimetic nanoparticle vaccine. Hollow PLGA nanoparticles with encapsulated adjuvant and surface maleimide linkers were prepared using a double emulsion technique. Recombinant viral antigens were then conjugated to the surface of nanoparticles via thiol-maleimide linkage. (B) CD4⁺ T-cell responses against MERS-CoV RBD in immunized mice were determined by intracellular cytokine staining on day 7 after boost, with n = 3 to obtain error bars. (C) Frequencies of central memory (CD44⁺CD62L⁺) CD4⁺ T cell in the draining lymph nodes of immunized mice 28 days after boosting with n = 3 to obtain error bars. Statistical analyses were performed by unpaired t-tests (*p < 0.05). (D) MERS-CoV RBD-specific IgG1 and IgG2a titers in immunized mice on day 35 postvaccination with n = 6 to obtain error bars. CoV: Coronavirus; MERS: Middle East respiratory syndrome; PLGA: Poly(lactide-coglycolide); RBD: Receptor-binding domain. Reproduced with permission from [32] © Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA (2019).

Figure 2.. Schematic for the antiviral mechanisms of studied graphene and Ag nanomaterials.

(A) GO against the enveloped virus; (B) GO-Ag against the enveloped virus; (C) GO against the nonenveloped virus; (D) GO-Ag against the nonenveloped virus. GO: Graphene oxide; GO-Ag: Graphene-silver nanocomposite. Reproduced with permission from [41], licensed with CC-BY 4.0.

Figure 3.. Schematic representation of virus sensor design based on Zr nanomaterials.

(A) Zr NPs and reducing agent kept in vial; (B) Zr QDs formation; (C) antibody conjugated QDs; (D) the addition of antibody-conjugated MP NPs; (E) formation of nanostructured magnetoplasmonic-fluorescence with the addition of target virus, then separated (F); (G) the nanohybrid-conjugated part was dispersed and the optical properties measured (H). MP: Magnetoplasmonic; NP: Nanoparticle; QD: Quantum dot. Reproduced with permission from [48], licensed with CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.