Recent advances of nanotechnology in COVID 19: A critical review and future perspective

Abstract

The global anxiety and economic crisis causes the deadly pandemic coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID 19) affect millions of people right now. Subsequently, this life threatened viral disease is caused due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, morbidity and mortality of infected patients are due to cytokines storm syndrome associated with lung injury and multiorgan failure caused by COVID 19. Thereafter, several methodological advances have been approved by WHO and US-FDA for the detection, diagnosis and control of this wide spreadable communicable disease but still facing multi-challenges to control. Herein, we majorly emphasize the current trends and future perspectives of nano-medicinal based approaches for the delivery of anti-COVID 19 therapeutic moieties. Interestingly, Nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with drug molecules or vaccines resemble morphological features of SARS-CoV-2 in their size (60-140 nm) and shape (circular or spherical) that particularly mimics the virus facilitating strong interaction between them. Indeed, the delivery of anti-COVID 19 cargos via a nanoparticle such as Lipidic nanoparticles, Polymeric nanoparticles, Metallic nanoparticles, and Multi-functionalized nanoparticles to overcome the drawbacks of conventional approaches, specifying the site-specific targeting with reduced drug loading and toxicities, exhibit their immense potential. Additionally, nano-technological based drug delivery with their peculiar characteristics of having low immunogenicity, tunable drug release, multidrug delivery, higher selectivity and specificity, higher efficacy and tolerability switch on the novel pathway for the prevention and treatment of COVID 19.

Keywords: COVID 19; Nano-medicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; SARS-CoV-2; Therapeutic delivery; Vaccine delivery.

Fig. 1

Three different types of corona virus, showing its origin place including primary and secondary host, outbreak year, affected countries, infected people with total death cases, and fatality rate [6,7].

Fig. 2

(a) Global COVID 19 cases showing as continent wise. Europe is the leading continent of infection followed by America, the Western Pacific, South East Asia, Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.s, (b) COVID 19 infected eight highly burdened countries. The United States of America is the leading country subsequently followed by India, Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia and South Korea.

Fig. 3

Pathogenesis and mechanism of SASR-CoV 2 infection exhibiting six different steps; (1). Entry of Corona virus and infects lung cells, (2). Production of cytokines after identification of virus via immune cells including macrophages (3). Production of cytokine storm due attraction of more immune cells like white blood cells and causes inflammation. (4). Formation of fibrin, causing lung cell damage, (5) Entry of fluid into lungs cavities through weakened blood vessels causing respiratory failure, (6). Circulation of a virus into various parts of the body through systemic circulation causes multiorgan damage.

Fig. 4

Nano-technological based strategy for the Diagnose, treatment and prevention of pandemic SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Fig. 5

Carbon Based Nano material for diagnosis, drug and vaccine delivery, treatment and prevention of COVID 19.

Fig. 6

Schematic representation of the toxicological effect of nanoparticles via the physicochemical and biochemical mechanism.

Fig. 7

Nanoparticles induced macroautophagy pathway following three different steps: (1) formation of double membraned autophagosomes from cytoplasmic constituents (misfolded proteins or damaged organelles), (2) formation of autolysosomes by the fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes, (3) degradation of autophagosomes leading to cell death.