Role of biomaterials in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and study of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract

Recently emerged novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to urgent search for methods to prevent and treat COVID-19. Among important disciplines that were mobilized is the biomaterials science and engineering. Biomaterials offer a range of possibilities to develop disease models, protective, diagnostic, therapeutic, monitoring measures, and vaccines. Among the most important contributions made so far from this field are tissue engineering, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip systems, which have been the important frontiers in developing tissue models for viral infection studies. Also, due to low bioavailability and limited circulation time of conventional antiviral drugs, controlled and targeted drug delivery could be applied alternatively. Fortunately, at the time of writing this paper, we have two successful vaccines and new at-home detection platforms. In this paper, we aim to review recent advances of biomaterial-based platforms for protection, diagnosis, vaccination, therapeutics, and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 and discuss challenges and possible future research directions in this field.

Keywords: Biomaterials; COVID-19; Organ-on-a-chip; Organoid; SARS-2; Tissue engineering.

Fig. 1

Human organoid models for COVID-19 studies. a Schematic showing the procedure for creating lung organoids (steps 1 and 2), supplemented with proximal and distal airway components in-a-dish model of COVID-19 (step 3) and cross-validation of in vitro lung models of SARS-CoV-2 infection (step 4). Adapted from [25]. b Confocal microscopy of immunohistochemistry, two months post-xenograft of hPSCs-derived pancreatic cells as in vitro model of COVID-19. In addition to alpha and beta cells, ACE2 receptors related to SARS-CoV-2 could be observed. Reproduced from [78] with permission from Elsevier

Fig. 2

Nanomaterial-based platform, a Selective colorimetric readout detection procedure of SARS-CoV-2 using AuNP. Reproduced from [110]. According to the journal: “This article is made available via the ACS COVID-19 subset for unrestricted RESEARCH re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.” b Explanation of AuNP-LF protocol in detection of a secreted antibodies in response of infection. Reproduced from [111], with permission from the American Chemical Society. c NW-FET platform; binding/unbinding of an indicator to receptor coated NW leads to alter conductivity and rapid detection. Reproduced from [112], with permission from the National Academy of Sciences. d Field-effect transistor composed of coated graphene sheets which was introduced for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Reproduced from [113]. According to the journal: “This article is made available via the ACS COVID-19 subset for unrestricted RESEARCH re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic”

Fig. 3

Biosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. a CRISPR-RNA based platform. Targets are detected by RNA-bound Cas protein, via complementary sequence. When the tertiary complex of Cas-crRNA-RNA was formed, fluorescent signal switches on. Reproduced from [151], with permission from Elsevier. b Gold nanoparticle (AuNPs)-based fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) immunosensor. FTO electrode composed of AuNPs conjugated with COVID-19 antibodies. Reproduced from [152], with permission from Author (S Gandhi). c Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor for the detection of the nucleo-capsid protein of SARS-CoV-2. Adapted from [153], with permission form the Author (Jean-Francois Masson)

Fig. 4

Schematic illustration representing the synthesis of the SQ/PMEA hybrids. Reproduced from [202], with permission from the American Chemical Society

Fig. 5

Schematic illustration showing the μPAD design combined with CRISPR gel and electrical readout. Layers 1 to 4 form a continuous channel on folding terminate into in a lateral flow channel in layer 5. The channel in  layer 5 was covered with conductive tape to read buffer flow as an electric signal, adapted from [222]

Fig. 6.

Fabrication of DNase-1-coated polydopamine-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles. The surface of the PLGA nanoparticles was coated with polydopamine to immobilize DNase-1. Reproduced from [224], with permission from Elsevier