Hard Nanomaterials in Time of Viral Pandemics

Precision epidemiology at the nexus of mathematics and nanotechnology: Unraveling the dance of viral dynamics

The intersection of mathematical modeling, nanotechnology, and epidemiology marks a paradigm shift in our battle against infectious diseases, aligning with the focus of the journal on the regulation, expression, function, and evolution of genes in diverse biological contexts. This exploration navigates the intricate dance of viral transmission dynamics, highlighting mathematical models as dual tools of insight and precision instruments, a theme relevant to the diverse sections of Gene. In the context of virology, ethical considerations loom large, necessitating robust frameworks to protect individual rights, an aspect essential in infectious disease research. Global collaboration emerges as a critical pillar in our response to emerging infectious diseases, fortified by the predictive prowess of mathematical models enriched by nanotechnology. The synergy of interdisciplinary collaboration, training the next generation to bridge mathematical rigor, biology, and epidemiology, promises accelerated discoveries and robust models that account for real-world complexities, fostering innovation and exploration in the field. In this intricate review, mathematical modeling in viral transmission dynamics and epidemiology serves as a guiding beacon, illuminating the path toward precision interventions, global preparedness, and the collective endeavor to safeguard human health, resonating with the aim of advancing knowledge in gene regulation and expression.

Nanotechnology's frontier in combatting infectious and inflammatory diseases: prevention and treatment

Inflammation-associated diseases encompass a range of infectious diseases and non-infectious inflammatory diseases, which continuously pose one of the most serious threats to human health, attributed to factors such as the emergence of new pathogens, increasing drug resistance, changes in living environments and lifestyles, and the aging population. Despite rapid advancements in mechanistic research and drug development for these diseases, current treatments often have limited efficacy and notable side effects, necessitating the development of more effective and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies. In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided crucial technological support for the prevention, treatment, and detection of inflammation-associated diseases. Various types of nanoparticles (NPs) play significant roles, serving as vaccine vehicles to enhance immunogenicity and as drug carriers to improve targeting and bioavailability. NPs can also directly combat pathogens and inflammation. In addition, nanotechnology has facilitated the development of biosensors for pathogen detection and imaging techniques for inflammatory diseases. This review categorizes and characterizes different types of NPs, summarizes their applications in the prevention, treatment, and detection of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It also discusses the challenges associated with clinical translation in this field and explores the latest developments and prospects. In conclusion, nanotechnology opens up new possibilities for the comprehensive management of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

The Interplay of Genital Herpes with Cellular Processes: A Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Perspective

Genital herpes, primarily caused by herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), remains a pressing global health concern. Its remarkable ability to intertwine with cellular processes, from harnessing host machinery for replication to subverting antiviral defenses like autophagy and programmed cell death, exemplifies the intricate interplay at the heart of its pathogenesis. While the biomedical community has extensively researched antiviral interventions, the efficiency of these strategies in managing HSV-2 remains suboptimal. Recognizing this, attention has shifted toward leveraging host cellular components to regulate HSV-2 replication and influence the cell cycle. Furthermore, innovative interventional strategies-including drug repurposing, microbivacs, connecting the host microbiome, and exploiting natural secondary metabolites-are emerging as potential game changers. This review summarizes the key steps in HSV-2 pathogenesis and newly discovered cellular interactions, presenting the latest developments in the field, highlighting existing challenges, and offering a fresh perspective on HSV-2's pathogenesis and the potential avenues for its treatment by targeting cellular proteins and pathways.

Silver, Its Salts and Application in Medicine and Pharmacy

The healing properties of silver have been used since ancient times. The main aim of the study was to collect and review the literature on the clinical potential of silver, its salts and complex compounds. The second goal was to present an outline of the historical use of silver in medicine and pharmacy, taking into account the possibility of producing pharmaceutical drug forms on the premises of pharmacies. In the context of the growing resistance of microorganisms to available, widely used antibiotics, silver plays a key role. There is only one known case of bacterial resistance to silver-the Pseudomonas stutzeri strain, which naturally occurs in silver mines. The development of research in the field of coordination chemistry offers great opportunities in the design of new substances in which silver ions can be incorporated. These substances exhibit increased potency and often an extended antimicrobial spectrum. Silver-based compounds are, however, only limited to external applications, as opposed to their historic oral administration. Advanced studies of their physicochemical, microbiological, cytotoxic and genotoxic properties are ongoing and full of challenges. The improvement of the methods of synthesis gives the possibility of applying the newly synthesized compounds ex tempore, as was the case with the complex of metronidazole with silver (I) nitrate. Some of these experimental efforts performed in vitro are followed with clinical trials. The third and final goal of this study was to present the possibility of obtaining an ointment under the conditions of an actual pharmacy using silver (I) salts and a ligand, both of which are active substances with antimicrobial properties.

Metabolomics-directed nanotechnology in viral diseases management: COVID-19 a case study

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently regarded as the twenty-first century's plague accounting for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Besides its reported symptoms affecting the respiratory tract, it was found to alter several metabolic pathways inside the body. Nanoparticles proved to combat viral infections including COVID-19 to demonstrate great success in developing vaccines based on mRNA technology. However, various types of nanoparticles can affect the host metabolome. Considering the increasing proportion of nano-based vaccines, this review compiles and analyses how COVID-19 and nanoparticles affect lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates metabolism. A search was conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science for available information on the interrelationship between metabolomics and immunity in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effect of nanoparticles on metabolite levels. It was clear that SARS-CoV-2 disrupted several pathways to ensure a sufficient supply of its building blocks to facilitate its replication. Such information can help in developing treatment strategies against viral infections and COVID-19 based on interventions that overcome these metabolic changes. Furthermore, it showed that even drug-free nanoparticles can exert an influence on biological systems as evidenced by metabolomics.

Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Pseudotyped Virus Infection Using ACE2-Tethered Micro/Nanoparticles

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The viral infection is reliant upon the binding between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) and spike protein (S). Therefore, ACE2 is a key receptor for SARS-CoV-2 to infect the host. Nonetheless, as SARS-CoV-2 is constantly mutating into new variants that cause high infection rates, the development of prophylactic and therapeutic approaches remains a necessity to continue fighting mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this study, ACE2-streptavidin fusion proteins expressed by recombinant DNA technology were anchored on biotinylated fluorescent polystyrene particles of various sizes ranging from 0.15 to 5 µm. The ACE2-tethered micro/nanoparticles were shown to prevent spike protein pseudotyped lentivirus entry into ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells. Compared to ACE2 in soluble form, micro-sized particles (2 and 5 µm) immobilized with ACE2 interfered more efficiently with viral attachment, entry, and the ensuing infection. Our results showed that particles functionalized with ACE2 could be used as efficient decoys to block the infection of SARS-CoV-2 strains.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanocomposites for Nanotheranostics: Special Focus on Preventing Emerging Variants of SARS-COV-2

The worldwide emerging cases of various respiratory viral diseases and the current escalation of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) make people considerably attentive to controlling these viruses through innovative methods. Most re-emerging respiratory diseases envelop RNA viruses that employ attachment between the virus and host cell to get an entry form using the host cell machinery. Emerging variants of COVD-19 also bring about a constant threat to public health as it has wide infectivity and can quickly spread to infect humans. This review focuses on insights into the current investigations to prevent the progression of incipient variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) along with similar enveloped RNA viruses that cause respiratory illness in humans and animals. Nanotheranostics is a trailblazing arena of nanomedicine that simultaneously helps prevent or treat diseases and diagnoses. Nanoparticle coating and nanofibers were extensively explored, preventing viral contaminations. Several studies have proven the virucidal activities of metal nanoparticles like copper, silver, and titanium against respiratory viral pathogens. Worldwide many researchers have shown surfaces coated with ionic nanoparticles like zinc or titanium act as potent antiviral agents against RNA viruses. Carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, silica nanoparticles (NPs), polymeric and metallic nanoparticles have also been explored in the field of nanotheranostics in viral detection. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed different types of metallic, ionic, organic nanoparticles and their hybrids showing substantial antiviral properties to stop the progression of the novel coronavirus disease focused on three key classes: prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.

Combating Microbial Infections Using Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Potential Therapeutic Alternatives

The nature of microorganisms and the efficiency of antimicrobials have witnessed a huge co-dependent change in their dynamics over the last few decades. On the other side, metals and metallic compounds have gained popularity owing to their effectiveness against various microbial strains. A structured search of both research and review papers was conducted via different electronic databases, such as PubMed, Bentham, Springer, and Science Direct, among others, for the present review. Along with these, marketed products, patents, and Clinicaltrials.gov were also referred to for our review. Different microbes such as bacteria, fungi, etc., and their diverse species and strains have been reviewed and found to be sensitive to metal-carrying formulations. The products are observed to restrict growth, multiplication, and biofilm formation effectively and adequately. Silver has an apt use in this area of treatment and recovery, and other metals like copper, gold, iron, and gallium have also been observed to generate antimicrobial activity. The present review identified membrane disruption, oxidative stress, and interaction with proteins and enzymes to be the primary microbicidal processes. Elaborating the action, nanoparticles and nanosystems are shown to work in our favor in well excelled and rational ways.

Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Biomedical Applications: A Review

Nanotechnology has inscribed novel perception into the material science and one of the most extensively used nanomaterials is Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with healthcare and biomedical applications. Because of its outstanding biocompatibility, low toxicity, and low cost, ZnO NPs have become one of the most prominent metal oxide NPs in biological applications. This review highlights the different aspects of ZnO NPs, like their green synthesis as a substitute of conventional route due to avoidance of threat of hazardous, costly precursors and subsequent mostly therapeutic applications. Due to their wide bandwidth and high excitation binding energy, ZnO NPs have undergone extensive research. In addition to their potential applications as antibiotics, antioxidants, anti-diabetics, and cytotoxic agents, ZnO NPs also hold a promising future as an antiviral treatment for SARS-CoV-2. Zn has antiviral properties and may be effective against a variety of respiratory virus species, particularly SARS-CoV-2. This review includes a variety of topics, including the virus's structural properties, an overview of infection mechanism, and current COVID-19 treatments. Nanotechnology-based techniques for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 are also discussed in this review.

Advanced and Smart Textiles during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Issues, Challenges, and Innovations

The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely affected the textile and apparel industry. Besides the negative impact due to supply chain disruptions, drop in demand, liquidity problems, and overstocking, this pandemic was found to be a window of opportunity since it accelerated the ongoing digitalization trends and the use of functional materials in the textile industry. This review paper covers the development of smart and advanced textiles that emerged as a response to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. We extensively cover the advancements in developing smart textiles that enable monitoring and sensing through electrospun nanofibers and nanogenerators. Additionally, we focus on improving medical textiles mainly through enhanced antiviral capabilities, which play a crucial role in pandemic prevention, protection, and control. We summarize the challenges that arise from personal protective equipment (PPE) disposal and finally give an overview of new smart textile-based products that emerged in the markets related to the control and spread reduction of SARS-CoV-2.

Copper-based nanoparticles against microbial infections

Drug-resistant bacteria and highly infectious viruses are among the major global threats affecting the human health. There is an immediate need for novel strategies to tackle this challenge. Copper-based nanoparticles (CBNPs) have exhibited a broad antimicrobial capacity and are receiving increasing attention in this context. In this review, we describe the functionalization of CBNPs, elucidate their antibacterial and antiviral activity as well as applications, and briefly review their toxicity, biodistribution, and persistence. The limitations of the current study and potential solutions are also shortly discussed. The review will guide the rational design of functional nanomaterials for antimicrobial application. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease.

Functional Textile Materials for Blocking COVID-19 Transmission

The outbreak of COVID-19 provided a warning sign for society worldwide: that is, we urgently need to explore effective strategies for combating unpredictable viral pandemics. Protective textiles such as surgery masks have played an important role in the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, while revealing serious challenges in terms of supply, cross-infection risk, and environmental pollution. In this context, textiles with an antivirus functionality have attracted increasing attention, and many innovative proposals with exciting commercial possibilities have been reported over the past three years. In this review, we illustrate the progress of textile filtration for pandemics and summarize the recent development of antiviral textiles for personal protective purposes by cataloging them into three classes: metal-based, carbon-based, and polymer-based materials. We focused on the preparation routes of emerging antiviral textiles, providing a forward-looking perspective on their opportunities and challenges, to evaluate their efficacy, scale up their manufacturing processes, and expand their high-volume applications. Based on this review, we conclude that ideal antiviral textiles are characterized by a high filtration efficiency, reliable antiviral effect, long storage life, and recyclability. The expected manufacturing processes should be economically feasible, scalable, and quickly responsive.

[Adjuvant effect of dispersed fullerene C60 on the immune response to constructs harboring amino acid and nucleotide sequences of hepatitis C virus nonstructural NS5B protein]

INTRODUCTION

A vaccine against hepatitis C has not yet been developed. Recombinant proteins and plasmids encoding hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins, the components of candidate vaccines, induce a weak immune response and require the use of adjuvants. The aim of the work was to study the adjuvant action of an aqueous solution of fullerene C60 during immunization of mice with HCV recombinant protein NS5B (rNS5B) that is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or with NS5B-encoding pcNS5B plasmid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An aqueous solution of dispersed fullerene (dnC60) was obtained by ultrafiltration. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with rNS5B subcutaneously, pcNS5B intramuscularly mixed with different doses of dnC60 three times, then the humoral and cellular response to HCV was evaluated.

RESULTS

Mice immunization with rNS5B in a mixture with dnC60 at doses of 250 g/mouse significantly induced humoral response: a dose-dependent increase in IgG1 antibody titers was 720 times higher than in the absence of fullerene. There was no increase in the cellular response to rNS5B when administered with dnC60. The humoral response to DNA immunization was weak in mice of all groups receiving pcNS5B. The cellular response was suppressed when the plasmid was injected in a mixture with dnC60.

CONCLUSIONS

Dispersed fullerene dnC60 is a promising adjuvant for increasing the immunostimulating activity of weakly immunogenic proteins including surface and other HCV proteins, important for a protective response. Further research is needed to enhance the ability of dnC60 to boost the cellular immune response to the components of the candidate vaccine.

The impact of agarose immobilization on the activity of lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages combined with chemicals

The implementation of non-traditional antibacterials is currently one of the most intensively explored areas of modern medical and biological sciences. One of the most promising alternative strategies to combat bacterial infections is the application of lytic phages combined with established and new antibacterials. The presented study investigates the potential of agarose-based biocomposites containing lytic Pseudomonas phages (KT28, KTN4, and LUZ19), cupric ions (Cu²⁺), strawberry furanone (HDMF), and gentamicin (GE) as antibacterials and anti-virulent compounds for novel wound dressings. Phages (KT28, KTN4, LUZ19, and triple-phage cocktail) alone and in combination with a triple-chemical mixture (Cu + GE + HDMF) when applied as the liquid formulation caused a significant bacterial count reduction and biofilm production inhibition of clinical P. aeruginosa strains. The immobilization in the agarose scaffold significantly impaired the bioavailability and diffusion of phage particles, depending on virion morphology and targeted receptor specificity. The antibacterial potential of chemicals was also reduced by the agarose scaffold. Moreover, the Cu + GE + HDMF mixture impaired the lytic activity of phages depending on viral particles' susceptibility to cupric ion toxicity. Therefore, three administration types were tested and the optimal turned out to be the one separating antibacterials both physically and temporally. Taken together, the additive effect of phages combined with chemicals makes biocomposite a good solution for designing new wound dressings. Nevertheless, the phage utilization should involve an application of aqueous cocktails directly onto the wound, followed by chemicals immobilized in hydrogel dressings which allow for taking advantage of the antibacterial and anti-virulent effects of all components. KEY POINTS: • The immobilization in the agarose impairs the bioavailability of phage particles and the Cu + GE + HDMF mixture. • The cupric ions are toxic to phages and are sequestrated on phage particles and agarose matrix. • The elaborated TIME-SHIFT administration effectively separates antibacterials both physically and temporally.

State-of-art high-performance Nano-systems for mutated coronavirus infection management: From Lab to Clinic

The emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants made emerging novel coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) pandemic/endemic/or both more severe and difficult to manage due to increased worry about the efficacy and efficiency of present preventative, therapeutic, and sensing measures. To deal with these unexpected circumstances, the development of novel nano-systems with tuneable optical, electrical, magnetic, and morphological properties can lead to novel research needed for (1) COVID-19 infection (anti-microbial systems against SARS-CoV-2), (2) early detection of mutated SARS-CoV-2, and (3) targeted delivery of therapeutics using nano-systems, i.e., nanomedicine. However, there is a knowledge gap in understanding all these nano-biotechnology potentials for managing mutated SARS-CoV-2 on a single platform. To bring up the aspects of nanotechnology to tackle SARS-CoV-2 variants related COVID-19 pandemic, this article emphasizes improvements in the high-performance of nano-systems to combat SARS-CoV-2 strains/variants with a goal of managing COVID-19 infection via trapping, eradication, detection/sensing, and treatment of virus. The potential of state-of-the-art nano-assisted approaches has been demonstrated as an efficient drug delivery systems, viral disinfectants, vaccine productive cargos, anti-viral activity, and biosensors suitable for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Furthermore, the process linked with the efficacy of nanosystems to neutralize and eliminate SARS-CoV-2 is extensively highligthed in this report. The challenges and opportunities associated with managing COVID-19 using nanotechnology as part of regulations are also well-covered. The outcomes of this review will help researchers to design, investigate, and develop an appropriate nano system to manage COVID-19 infection, with a focus on the detection and eradication of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. This article is unique in that it discusses every aspect of high-performance nanotechnology for ideal COVID pandemic management.

Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Pseudotyped Virus Infection Using ACE2-Tethered Gold Nanorods under Near-Infrared Laser Irradiation

Since the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein is abundant on the surface of respiratory cells in the lungs, it has been confirmed to be the entry-point receptor for the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. As such, gold nanorods (AuNRs) functionalized with ACE2 ectodomain (ACE2ED) act not only as decoys for these viruses to keep them from binding with the ACE2-expressing cells but also as agents to ablate infectious virions through heat generated from AuNRs under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Using plasmid containing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein gene (with a D614G mutation), spike protein pseudotyped viral particles with a lentiviral core and green fluorescent protein reporter were constructed and used for transfecting ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells. Since these viral particles behave like their coronavirus counterparts, they are the ideal surrogates of native virions for studying viral entry into host cells. Our results showed that, once the surrogate pseudoviruses with spike protein encounter ACE2ED-tethered AuNRs, these virions are entrapped, resulting in decreased viral infection to ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells. Moreover, the effect of photothermolysis created by ACE2ED-tagged AuNRs under 808-nm NIR laser irradiation for 5 min led to viral breakdown. In summary, ACE2ED-tethered AuNRs with dual functions (virus decoy and destruction) could have an intriguing advantage in the treatment of diseases involving rapidly mutating viral species such as SARS-CoV-2.

A novel inactivated virus system (InViS) for a fast and inexpensive assessment of viral disintegration

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable interest worldwide in antiviral surfaces, and there has been a dramatic increase in the research and development of innovative material systems to reduce virus transmission in the past few years. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) norms 18,184 and 21,702 are two standard methods to characterize the antiviral properties of porous and non-porous surfaces. However, during the last years of the pandemic, a need for faster and inexpensive characterization of antiviral material was identified. Therefore, a complementary method based on an Inactivated Virus System (InViS) was developed to facilitate the early-stage development of antiviral technologies and quality surveillance of the production of antiviral materials safely and efficiently. The InViS is loaded with a self-quenched fluorescent dye that produces a measurable increase in fluorescence when the viral envelope disintegrates. In the present work, the sensitivity of InViS to viral disintegration by known antiviral agents is demonstrated and its potential to characterize novel materials and surfaces is explored. Finally, the InViS is used to determine the fate of viral particles within facemasks layers, rendering it an interesting tool to support the development of antiviral surface systems for technical and medical applications.

Metal and metal oxide-based antiviral nanoparticles: Properties, mechanisms of action, and applications

Certain types of metal-based nanoparticles are effective antiviral agents when used in their original form ("bare") or after their surfaces have been functionalized ("modified"), including those comprised of metals (e.g., silver) and metal oxides (e.g., zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or iron dioxide). These nanoparticles can be prepared with different sizes, morphologies, surface chemistries, and charges, which leads to different antiviral activities. They can be used as aqueous dispersions or incorporated into composite materials, such as coatings or packaging materials. In this review, we provide an overview of the design, preparation, and characterization of metal-based nanoparticles. We then discuss their potential mechanisms of action against various kinds of viruses. Finally, the applications of some of the most common metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are discussed, including those fabricated from silver, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. In general, the major antiviral mechanisms of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have been observed to be 1) attachment of nanoparticles to surface moieties of viral particles like spike glycoproteins, that disrupt viral attachment and uncoating in host cells; 2) generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that denature viral macromolecules such as nucleic acids, capsid proteins, and/or lipid envelopes; and 3) inactivation of viral glycoproteins by the disruption of the disulfide bonds of viral proteins. Several physicochemical properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles including size, shape, zeta potential, stability in physiological conditions, surface modification, and porosity can all impact the antiviral efficacy of the nanoparticles.

Organic photosensitizers for antimicrobial phototherapy

Microbial infectious diseases, especially those caused by new and antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microbes, have become a significant threat to global human health. As an antibiotic-free therapy, phototherapy is a promising approach to treat microbial infections due to its spatiotemporal selectivity, non-invasiveness, minimal side effects, and broad antimicrobial spectrum. Although organic photosensitizer-based antimicrobial phototherapy has been extensively studied over the last decade, there has been no specific review article on this topic yet. It is important and timely to summarize recent research progress in this field. This tutorial review highlights the concept and significance of phototherapy and summarizes innovative types of organic photosensitizers with design strategies to deal with microbial infections. In addition, examples of organic antimicrobial photosensitizers, including antibacterial photosensitizers, antiviral photosensitizers, and antifungal photosensitizers are discussed. Finally, current challenges and future directions of organic photosensitizer-based phototherapy for clinical antimicrobial applications are presented. We believe that this tutorial review will provide general guidance for the future development of efficient photosensitizers and encourage preclinical and clinical studies for phototherapy-mediated antimicrobial treatments.

Biocompatible Films of Calcium Alginate Inactivate Enveloped Viruses Such as SARS-CoV-2

The current pandemic is urgently demanding the development of alternative materials capable of inactivating the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease. Calcium alginate is a crosslinked hydrophilic biopolymer with an immense range of biomedical applications due to its excellent chemical, physical, and biological properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of calcium alginate in the form of films were studied. The results showed that these films, prepared by solvent casting and subsequent crosslinking with calcium cations, are biocompatible in human keratinocytes and are capable of inactivating enveloped viruses such as bacteriophage phi 6 with a 1.43-log reduction (94.92% viral inactivation) and SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant with a 1.64-log reduction (96.94% viral inactivation) in virus titers. The antiviral activity of these calcium alginate films can be attributed to its compacted negative charges that may bind to viral envelopes inactivating membrane receptors.

Fullerenes against COVID-19: Repurposing C60 and C70 to Clog the Active Site of SARS-CoV-2 Protease

The persistency of COVID-19 in the world and the continuous rise of its variants demand new treatments to complement vaccines. Computational chemistry can assist in the identification of moieties able to lead to new drugs to fight the disease. Fullerenes and carbon nanomaterials can interact with proteins and are considered promising antiviral agents. Here, we propose the possibility to repurpose fullerenes to clog the active site of the SARS-CoV-2 protease, M^pro. Through the use of docking, molecular dynamics, and energy decomposition techniques, it is shown that C₆₀ has a substantial binding energy to the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, M^pro, higher than masitinib, a known inhibitor of the protein. Furthermore, we suggest the use of C₇₀ as an innovative scaffold for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. At odds with masitinib, both C₆₀ and C₇₀ interact more strongly with SARS-CoV-2 M^pro when different protonation states of the catalytic dyad are considered. The binding of fullerenes to M^pro is due to shape complementarity, i.e., vdW interactions, and is aspecific. As such, it is not sensitive to mutations that can eliminate or invert the charges of the amino acids composing the binding pocket. Fullerenic cages should therefore be more effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus than the available inhibitors such as masinitib, where the electrostatic term plays a crucial role in the binding.

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS: NANOTECHNOLOGY AND COVID-19

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 pandemic information is critical in order to study it further, but the virus has still not been confined. In addition, even if there is no longer any threat, more knowledge may be gathered from these resources.

METHODS

The data used in this study was gathered from several scientific areas and the links between them. Due to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has not been fully contained and additional information can be gleaned from these references, bibliometric analysis of it is important.

RESULTS

In total 155 publications on the topic of "COVID-19" and the keyword "nanotechnology" were identified in the Scopus database between 2020 and 2021 in a network visualization map.

CONCLUSION

As a result, our analysis was conducted at the appropriate time to provide a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 and nanotechnology and prospective research directions for medicinal chemistry.

Hydro electroactive Cu/Zn coated cotton fiber nonwovens for antibacterial and antiviral applications

In this study, Cu/Zn galvanic electrodes were sputtered on the two surfaces of hydrophilic cotton fiber nonwovens (Cotton) to prepare hydro electroactive Cu/Cotton/Zn composites. When the Cu/Cotton/Zn was used as a functional layer in the face mask, the Cu/Zn galvanic electrodes can be spontaneously activated by water vapor molecules exhaled by the human body and generate galvanic current. Based on this, the hydro electroactive Cu/Cotton/Zn demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and could deactivate Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virions transmitted through the respiratory tract by 97.72% after 15 min of contact. Moreover, the Cu/Cotton/Zn did not affect the particle filtration efficiency and breathability of the face mask's polypropylene (PP) melt-blown layer. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assessment of Cu/Cotton/Zn showed no cytotoxicity, indicating good biological security. Overall, the Cu/Cotton/Zn may provide a new approach to increase the antibacterial and antiviral performance of current personnel protective equipment on the market.

Inhibitory effect and mechanism of gelatin stabilized ferrous sulfide nanoparticles on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Background

The infection and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) pose a serious threat to the global pig industry, and inhibiting the viral infection process is a promising treatment strategy. Nanomaterials can interact with viruses and have attracted much attention due to their large specific surface area and unique physicochemical properties. Ferrous sulfide nanoparticles (FeS NPs) with the characteristics of high reactivity, large specific surface area, and low cost are widely applied to environmental remediation, catalysis, energy storage and medicine. However, there is no report on the application of FeS NPs in the antiviral field. In this study, gelatin stabilized FeS nanoparticles (Gel-FeS NPs) were large-scale synthesized rapidly by the one-pot method of co-precipitation of Fe²⁺ and S^2‒.

Results

The prepared Gel-FeS NPs exhibited good stability and dispersibility with an average diameter of 47.3 nm. Additionally, they were characterized with good biocompatibility and high antiviral activity against PRRSV proliferation in the stages of adsorption, invasion, and replication.

Conclusions

We reported for the first time the virucidal and antiviral activity of Gel-FeS NPs. The synthesized Gel-FeS NPs exhibited good dispersibility and biocompatibility as well as effective inhibition on PRRSV proliferation. Moreover, the Fe²⁺ released from degraded Gel-FeS NPs still displayed an antiviral effect, demonstrating the advantage of Gel-FeS NPs as an antiviral nanomaterial compared to other nanomaterials. This work highlighted the antiviral effect of Gel-FeS NPs and provided a new strategy for ferrous-based nanoparticles against PRRSV.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01281-4.

Nanoagent-based theranostic strategies against human coronaviruses

The emergence of human coronaviruses (HCoVs), especially the current pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), engender severe threats to public health globally. Despite the outstanding breakthrough of new vaccines and therapeutic medicines in the past years, HCoVs still undergo unpredictable mutations, thus demanding more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Benefitting from the unique physicochemical properties and multiple nano-bio interactions, nanomaterials hold promising potential to fight against various HCoVs, either by providing sensitive and economic nanosensors for rapid viral detection, or by developing translatable nanovaccines and broad-spectrum nanomedicines for HCoV treatment. Herein, we systemically summarized the recent applications of nanoagents in diagnostics and therapeutics for HCoV-induced diseases, as well as their limitations and perspectives against HCoV variants. We believe this review will promote the design of innovative theranostic nanoagents for the current and future HCoV-caused pandemics.

Photocatalytic nanoparticles - From membrane interactions to antimicrobial and antiviral effects

As a result of increasing resistance among pathogens against antibiotics and anti-viral therapeutics, nanomaterials are attracting current interest as antimicrobial agents. Such materials offer triggered functionalities to combat challenging infections, based on either direct membrane action, effects of released ions, thermal shock induced by either light or magnetic fields, or oxidative photocatalysis. In the present overview, we focus on photocatalytic antimicrobial effects, in which light exposure triggers generation of reactive oxygen species. These, in turn, cause oxidative damage to key components in bacteria and viruses, including lipid membranes, lipopolysaccharides, proteins, and DNA/RNA. While an increasing body of studies demonstrate that potent antimicrobial effects can be achieved by photocatalytic nanomaterials, understanding of the mechanistic foundation underlying such effects is still in its infancy. Addressing this, we here provide an overview of the current understanding of the interaction of photocatalytic nanomaterials with pathogen membranes and membrane components, and how this translates into antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Carbon fullerene and nanotube are probable binders to multiple targets of SARS-CoV-2: Insights from computational modeling and molecular dynamic simulation studies

The present study aimed to predict the binding potential of carbon nanotube and nano fullerene towards multiple targets of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the virulent functions, the spike glycoprotein, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, main protease, papain-like protease, and RNA binding domain of the nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were prioritized as the molecular targets and their three-dimensional (3D) structures were retrieved from the Protein Data Bank. The 3D structures of carbon nanotubes and nano-fullerene were computationally modeled, and the binding potential of these nanoparticles to the selected molecular targets was predicted by molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic features of the lead molecules were computationally predicted. The current study suggested that carbon fullerene and nanotube demonstrated significant binding towards the prioritized multi-targets of SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, carbon nanotube showed better interaction with these targets when compared to carbon fullerene. MD simulation studies clearly showed that the interaction of nanoparticles and selected targets possessed stability and conformational changes. This study revealed that carbon nanotubes and fullerene are probably used as effectual binders to multiple targets of SARS-CoV-2, and the study offers insights into the experimental validation and highlights the relevance of utilizing carbon nanomaterials as a therapeutic remedy against COVID-19.

Biocide effect against SARS-CoV-2 and ESKAPE pathogens of a noncytotoxic silver-copper nanofilm

Nanometric materials with biocidal properties effective against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and pathogenic bacteria could be used to modify surfaces, reducing the risk of touching transmission. In this work, we showed that a nanometric layer of bimetallic AgCu can be effectively deposited on polypropylene (PP) fibers. The virucidal properties of the AgCu nanofilm were evaluated by comparing the viral loads remaining on uncoated and coated PP after contact times between 2 and 24 h. Quantification of virion numbers for different initial concentrations indicated a reduction of more than 95% after 2 h of contact. The bactericidal action of the AgCu nanofilm was also confirmed by inoculating uncoated and coated PP with a pool of pathogenic bacteria associated with pneumonia (ESKAPE). Meanwhile, no cytotoxicity was observed for human fibroblasts and keratinocyte cells, indicating that the nanofilm could be in contact with human skin without threat. The deposition of the AgCu nanofilm on the nonwoven component of reusable cloth masks might help to prevent virus and bacterial infection while reducing the pollution burden related to the disposable masks. The possible mechanism of biocide contact action was studied by quantum chemistry calculations that show that the addition of Ag and/or Cu makes the polymeric fiber a better electron acceptor. This can promote the oxidation of the phospholipids present at both the virus and bacterial membranes. The rupture at the membrane exposes and damages the genetic material of the virus. More studies are needed to determine the mechanism of action, but the results reported here indicate that Cu and Ag ions are good allies, which can help protect us from the virus that has caused this disturbing pandemic.

Advanced Nanomaterials for Preparedness Against (Re-)Emerging Viral Diseases

While the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) accounts for the current global pandemic, the emergence of other unknown pathogens, named "Disease X," remains a serious concern in the future. Emerging or re-emerging pathogens continue to pose significant challenges to global public health. In response, the scientific community has been urged to create advanced platform technologies to meet the ever-increasing needs presented by these devastating diseases with pandemic potential. This review aims to bring new insights to allow for the application of advanced nanomaterials in future diagnostics, vaccines, and antiviral therapies, thereby addressing the challenges associated with the current preparedness strategies in clinical settings against viruses. The application of nanomaterials has advanced medicine and provided cutting-edge solutions for unmet needs. Herein, an overview of the currently available nanotechnologies is presented, highlighting the significant features that enable them to control infectious diseases, and identifying the challenges that remain to be addressed for the commercial production of nano-based products is presented. Finally, to conclude, the development of a nanomaterial-based system using a "One Health" approach is suggested. This strategy would require a transdisciplinary collaboration and communication between all stakeholders throughout the entire process spanning across research and development, as well as the preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing phases.

An Anti-inflammatory Fe3 O4 -Porphyrin Nanohybrid Capable of Apoptosis through Upregulation of p21 Kinase Inhibitor Having Immunoprotective Properties under Anticancer PDT Conditions

We report the influence of Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) on porphyrins in the development of photosensitizers (PSs) for efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) and possible post-PDT responses for inflicting cancer cell death. Except for Au, most metal-based nanomaterials are unsuitable for clinical applications. The US Food and Drug Administration and other agencies have approved Feraheme and a few other iron oxide NPs for clinical use, paving the way for novel biocompatible immunoprotective superparamagnetic iron oxide nanohybrids to be developed as nanotherapeutics. A water-soluble nanohybrid, referred to here as E-NP, comprising superparamagnetic Fe₃ O₄ NPs functionalised with tripyridyl porphyrin PS was introduced through a rigid 4-carboxyphenyl linker. As a PDT agent, the efficacy of E-NP toward the AGS cancer cell line showed enhanced photosensitising ability as determined through in vitro photobiological assays. The cellular uptake of E-NPs by AGS cells led to apoptosis by upregulating ROS through cell-cycle arrest and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The subcellular localisation of the PSs in mitochondria stimulated apoptosis through upregulation of p21, a proliferation inhibitor capable of preventing tumour development. Under both PDT and non-PDT conditions, this nanohybrid can act as an anti-inflammatory agent by decreasing the production of NO and superoxide ions in murine macrophages, thus minimising collateral damage to healthy cells.

SARS-CoV-2 virion physicochemical characteristics pertinent to abiotic substrate attachment

The structure, size, and main physicochemical characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virion with the spike transmembrane protein corona were discussed. Using these data, diffusion coefficients of the virion in aqueous media and in air were calculated. The structure and dimensions of the spike protein derived from molecular dynamic modeling and thorough cryo-electron microscopy measurements were also analyzed. The charge distribution over the molecule was calculated and shown to be largely heterogeneous. Although the stalk part is negatively charged, the top part of the spike molecule, especially the receptor binding domain, remains positively charged for a broad range of pH. It is underlined that such a charge distribution promotes the spike corona stability and enhances the virion attachment to receptors and surfaces, mostly negatively charged. The review is completed by the analysis of experimental data pertinent to the spike protein adsorption at abiotic surfaces comprising nanoparticle carrier particles. It is argued that these theoretical and experimental data can be used for developing quantitative models of virus attachment to surfaces, facilitating adequate analysis of future experimental results.

The In Vitro Anti-Pseudomonal Activity of Cu2+, Strawberry Furanone, Gentamicin, and Lytic Phages Alone and in Combination: Pros and Cons

In this study, we investigated the anti-pseudomonal activity of cupric ions (Cu²⁺), strawberry furanone (HDMF), gentamicin (GE), and three lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages (KT28, KTN4, LUZ19), separately and in combination. HDMF showed an anti-virulent effect but only when applied with Cu²⁺ or GE. GE, at a sub-minimal inhibitory concentration, slowed down phage progeny production due to protein synthesis inhibition. Cu²⁺ significantly reduced both the bacterial cell count and the number of infective phage particles, likely due to its genotoxicity or protein inactivation and cell membrane disruption effects. Furthermore, Cu²⁺‘s probable sequestration by phage particles led to the reduction of free toxic metal ions available in the solution. An additive antibacterial effect was only observed for the combination of GE and Cu²⁺, potentially due to enhanced ROS production or to outer membrane permeabilization. This study indicates that possible interference between antibacterial agents needs to be carefully investigated for the preparation of effective therapeutic cocktails.

A Review on Silver Nanoparticles: Classification, Various Methods of Synthesis, and Their Potential Roles in Biomedical Applications and Water Treatment

Recent developments in nanoscience have appreciably modified how diseases are prevented, diagnosed, and treated. Metal nanoparticles, specifically silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are widely used in bioscience. From time to time, various synthetic methods for the synthesis of AgNPs are reported, i.e., physical, chemical, and photochemical ones. However, among these, most are expensive and not eco-friendly. The physicochemical parameters such as temperature, use of a dispersing agent, surfactant, and others greatly influence the quality and quantity of the synthesized NPs and ultimately affect the material’s properties. Scientists worldwide are trying to synthesize NPs and are devising methods that are easy to apply, eco-friendly, and economical. Among such strategies is the biogenic method, where plants are used as the source of reducing and capping agents. In this review, we intend to debate different strategies of AgNP synthesis. Although, different preparation strategies are in use to synthesize AgNPs such as electron irradiation, optical device ablation, chemical reduction, organic procedures, and photochemical methods. However, biogenic processes are preferably used, as they are environment-friendly and economical. The review covers a comprehensive discussion on the biological activities of AgNPs, such as antimicrobial, anticancer anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic potentials of AgNPs. The use of AgNPs in water treatment and disinfection has also been discussed in detail.

Nanotechnology based solutions to combat zoonotic viruses with special attention to SARS, MERS, and COVID 19: Detection, protection and medication

Zoonotic viruses originate from birds or animal sources and responsible for disease transmission from animals to people through zoonotic spill over and presents a significant global health concern due to lack of rapid diagnostics and therapeutics. The Corona viruses (CoV) were known to be transmitted in mammals. Early this year, SARS-CoV-2, a novel strain of corona virus, was identified as the causative pathogen of an outbreak of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China. The disease later named corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), subsequently spread across the globe rapidly. Nano-particles and viruses are comparable in size, which serves to be a major advantage of using nano-material in clinical strategy to combat viruses. Nanotechnology provides novel solutions against zoonotic viruses by providing cheap and efficient detection methods, novel, and new effective rapid diagnostics and therapeutics. The prospective of nanotechnology in COVID 19 is exceptionally high due to their small size, large surface-to-volume ratio, susceptibility to modification, intrinsic viricidal activity. The nano-based strategies address the COVID 19 by extending their role in i) designing nano-materials for drug/vaccine delivery, ii) developing nano-based diagnostic approaches like nano-sensors iii) novel nano-based personal protection equipment to be used in prevention strategies.This review aims to bring attention to the significant contribution of nanotechnology to mitigate against zoonotic viral pandemics by prevention, faster diagnosis and medication point of view.

Graphene-Based Hybrid Functional Materials

Graphene is a 2D material combining numerous outstanding physical properties, including high flexibility and strength, extremely high thermal conductivity and electron mobility, transparency, etc., which make it a unique testbed to explore fundamental physical phenomena. Such physical properties can be further tuned by combining graphene with other nanomaterials or (macro)molecules to form hybrid functional materials, which by design can display not only the properties of the individual components but also exhibit new properties and enhanced characteristics arising from the synergic interaction of the components. The implementation of the hybrid approach to graphene also allows boosting the performances in a multitude of technological applications. This review reports the hybrids formed by graphene combined with other low-dimensional nanomaterials of diverse dimensionality (0D, 1D, and 2D) and (macro)molecules, with emphasis on the synthetic methods. The most important applications of these hybrids in the fields of sensing, water purification, energy storage, biomedical, (photo)catalysis, and opto(electronics) are also reviewed, with a special focus on the superior performances of these hybrids compared to the individual, nonhybridized components.

Modelling the adsorption of proteins to nanoparticles at the solid-liquid interface

HYPOTHESIS

We developed a geometrical model to determine the theoretical maximum number of proteins that can pack as a monolayer surrounding a spherical nanoparticle. We applied our new model to study the adsorption of receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to silica nanoparticles. Due to its abundance and extensive use in manufacturing, silica represents a reservoir where the virus can accumulate. It is therefore important to study the adsorption and the persistence of viral components on inanimate surfaces.

EXPERIMENTS

We used previously published datasets of nanoparticle-adsorbed proteins to validate the new model. We then used integrated experimental methods and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to characterise binding of the RBD to silica nanoparticles and the effect of such binding on RBD structure.

FINDINGS

The new model showed excellent fit with existing datasets and, combined to new RBD-silica nanoparticles binding data, revealed a surface occupancy of 32% with respect to the maximum RBD packing theoretically achievable. Up to 25% of RBD's secondary structures undergo conformational changes as a consequence of adsorption onto silica nanoparticles. Our findings will help developing a better understanding of the principles governing interaction of proteins with surfaces and can contribute to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through contaminated objects.

Kinetic aspects of virus targeting by nanoparticles in vivo

One of the suggested ways of the use of nanoparticles in virology implies their association with and subsequent deactivation of virions. The conditions determining the efficiency of this approach in vivo are now not clear. Herein, I propose the first kinetic model describing the corresponding processes and clarifying these conditions. My analysis indicates that nanoparticles can decrease concentration of infected cells by a factor of one order of magnitude, but this decrease itself (without feedback of the immune system) is insufficient for full eradication of infection. It can, however, induce delay in the progress of infection, and this delay can help to form sufficient feedback of the immune system.

Towards antiviral polymer composites to combat COVID-19 transmission

Polymer matrix composite materials have the capacity to aid the indirect transmission of viral diseases. Published research shows that respiratory viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2 or COVID‐19), can attach to polymer substrata as a result of being contacted by airborne droplets resulting from infected people sneezing or coughing in close proximity. Polymer matrix composites are used to produce a wide range of products that are “high‐touch” surfaces, such as sporting goods, laptop computers and household fittings, and these surfaces can be readily contaminated by pathogens. This article reviews published research on the retention of SARS‐CoV‐2 and other virus types on plastics. The factors controlling the viral retention time on plastic surfaces are examined and the implications for viral retention on polymer composite materials are discussed. Potential strategies that can be used to impart antiviral properties to polymer composite surfaces are evaluated. These strategies include modification of the surface composition with biocidal agents (e.g., antiviral polymers and nanoparticles) and surface nanotexturing. The potential application of these surface modification strategies in the creation of antiviral polymer composite surfaces is discussed, which opens up an exciting new field of research for composite materials.

Nano-size dependence in the adsorption by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein over gold colloid

Gold nano-particles were coated with the spike protein (S protein) of SARS-CoV-2 and exposed to increasingly acidic conditions. Their responses were investigated by monitoring the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band shift. As the external pH was gradually changed from neutral pH to pH ∼2 the peak of the SPR band showed a significant red-shift, with a sigmoidal feature implying the formation of the gold-protein aggregates. The coating of S protein changed the surface property of the gold enough to extract the coverage fraction of protein over nano particles, Θ, which did not exhibit clear nano-size dependence. The geometrical simulation to explain Θ showed the average axial length to be a = 7. 25 nm and b =8.00 nm when the S-protein was hypothesized as a prolate shape with spiking-out orientation. As the pH value externally hopped between pH∼3 and pH∼10, a behavior of reversible protein folding was observed for particles with diameters >30 nm. It was concluded that S protein adsorption conformation was impacted by the size (diameter, d) of a core nano-gold, where head-to-head dimerized S protein was estimated for d ≤ 80 nm and a parallel in opposite directions formation for d = 100 nm.

State-of-the-Art of Nanodiagnostics and Nanotherapeutics against SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, with millions of infected patients worldwide, has severely challenged all aspects of public health. In this regard, early and rapid detection of infected cases and providing effective therapeutics against the virus are in urgent demand. Along with conventional clinical protocols, nanomaterial-based diagnostics and therapeutics hold a great potential against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Indeed, nanoparticles with their outstanding characteristics would render additional advantages to the current approaches for rapid and accurate diagnosis and also developing prophylactic vaccines or antiviral therapeutics. In this review, besides presenting an overview of the coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2, we discuss the introduced nanomaterial-based detection assays and devices and also antiviral formulations and vaccines for coronaviruses.

Trends in the Antiviral Chemical Activity of Material Surfaces Associated With the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak

The novel coronavirus designated as SARS-CoV-2 has risen the first pandemic caused by coronavirus and by November 26, 2020 is responsible for more than 1,410 million deaths. This scenario evidences that despite previous pandemics and epidemics in the world’s history, the current worldwide measures to contain and to mitigate viruses’ outbreaks are still disabled and insufficient. Therefore, this perspective reinforces the need for new and practical approaches for antiviral material developments and presents current technologies and its advances in this field of research focusing especially in surface materials since it is one of the most common interaction pathways. Furthermore, the roll that nanotechnology has been playing in the combat of viruses as well as the mechanisms that science has been discovering to inactivate these pathogenic microorganisms is presented. Finally, we suggest introducing new legislation and norms rather more specified on virucidal agents (materials and devices) than bactericidal ones in human environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, buses, and shopping centers to mitigate the current and future virus-based pandemics and epidemics.

Fight against COVID-19: The case of antiviral surfaces

The COVID-19 pandemic is the largest global public health outbreak in the 21st century so far. Based on World Health Organization reports, the main source of SARS-CoV-2 infection is transmission of droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. Viral particles can remain in the air and on the surfaces for a long time. These droplets are too heavy to float in air and rapidly fall down onto the surfaces. To minimize the risk of the infection, entire surrounding environment should be disinfected or neutralized regularly. Development of the antiviral coating for the surface of objects that are frequently used by the public could be a practical route to prevent the spread of the viral particles and inactivation of the transmission of the viruses. In this short review, the design of the antiviral coating to combat the spread of different viruses has been discussed and the technological attempts for minimizing the coronavirus outbreak have been highlighted.

Graphene: A Disruptive Opportunity for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics?

The graphene revolution, which has taken place during the last 15 years, has represented a paradigm shift for science. The extraordinary properties possessed by this unique material have paved the road to a number of applications in materials science, optoelectronics, energy, and sensing. Graphene-related materials (GRMs) are now produced in large scale and have found niche applications also in the biomedical technologies, defining new standards for drug delivery and biosensing. Such advances position GRMs as novel tools to fight against the current COVID-19 and future pandemics. In this regard, GRMs can play a major role in sensing, as an active component in antiviral surfaces or in virucidal formulations. Herein, the most promising strategies reported in the literature on the use of GRM-based materials against the COVID-19 pandemic and other types of viruses are showcased, with a strong focus on the impact of functionalization, deposition techniques, and integration into devices and surface coatings.

Insights and Perspectives Regarding Nanostructured Fluorescent Materials toward Tackling COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

The COVID-19 outbreak has exposed the world's preparation to fight against unknown/unexplored infectious and life-threatening pathogens. The unavailability of vaccines, slow or sometimes unreliable real-time virus/bacteria detection techniques, insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), and a shortage of ventilators and many other transportation equipments have further raised serious concerns. Material research has been playing a pivotal role in developing antimicrobial agents for water treatment and photodynamic therapy, fast and ultrasensitive biosensors for virus/biomarkers detection, as well as for relevant biomedical and environmental applications. It has been noticed that these research efforts nowadays primarily focus on the nanomaterials-based platforms owing to their simplicity, reliability, and feasibility. In particular, nanostructured fluorescent materials have shown key potential due to their fascinating optical and unique properties at the nanoscale to combat against a COVID-19 kind of pandemic. Keeping these points in mind, this review attempts to give a perspective on the four key fluorescent materials of different families, including carbon dots, metal nanoclusters, aggregation-induced-emission luminogens, and MXenes, which possess great potential for the development of ultrasensitive biosensors and infective antimicrobial agents to fight against various infections/diseases. Particular emphasis has been given to the biomedical and environmental applications that are linked directly or indirectly to the efforts in combating COVID-19 pandemics. This review also aims to raise the awareness of researchers and scientists across the world to utilize such powerful materials in tackling similar pandemics in future.

Clinical Application and Efficacy of Silver Drug in Ophthalmology: A Literature Review and New Formulation of EYE Drops with Drug Silver (I) Complex of Metronidazole with Improved Dosage Form

The use of silver preparations in medicine is becoming increasingly popular. The basic aim of this evaluation was to review the literature on the clinical (in vivo) and antibacterial potential of silver preparations in ophthalmic diseases. The second goal was to summarize the results of experimental research on the use of silver preparations in ophthalmology. The third objective was to present a method for stabilizing eye drops containing silver (I) complex. Analysis of the pH stability of the silver (I) complex with metronidazole in the prepared dosage form (eye drops) was carried out. Most silver preparations are clinically used for topical application. Few experimental results indicate the usefulness of intraocular or systemic administration of silver (I) preparations as an alternative or additional therapy in infectious and angiogenic eye diseases. The development of a new formulation increases the stability of the dosage form. New forms of silver (I) products will certainly find application in the treatment of many ophthalmic diseases. One of the most important features of the silver (I) complex is its capacity to break down bacterial resistance. The new eye drops formula can significantly improve comfort of use. Due to their chemical nature, silver (I) compounds are difficult to stabilize, especially in the finished dosage form.

Nanotechnology-Based Antimicrobial and Antiviral Surface Coating Strategies

Biocontamination of medical devices and implants is a growing issue that causes medical complications and increased expenses. In the fight against biocontamination, developing synthetic surfaces, which reduce the adhesion of microbes and provide biocidal activity or combinatory effects, has emerged as a major global strategy. Advances in nanotechnology and biological sciences have made it possible to design smart surfaces for decreasing infections. Nevertheless, the clinical performance of these surfaces is highly depending on the choice of material. This review focuses on the antimicrobial surfaces with functional material coatings, such as cationic polymers, metal coatings and antifouling micro-/nanostructures. One of the highlights of the review is providing insights into the virus-inactivating surface development, which might particularly be useful for controlling the currently confronted pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The nanotechnology-based strategies presented here might be beneficial to produce materials that reduce or prevent the transmission of airborne viral droplets, once applied to biomedical devices and protective equipment of medical workers. Overall, this review compiles existing studies in this broad field by focusing on the recent related developments, draws attention to the possible activity mechanisms, discusses the key challenges and provides future recommendations for developing new, efficient antimicrobial and antiviral surface coatings.

Recent Advancement in Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery System Against Viral Infections

In the last few decades, the exponential rise in the incidence of viral infections sets a global health emergency across the world. The biomimetic architecture, the ability to hijack host immune responses, continuous antigen shifting, and drafting are the major critical factors that are responsible for the unavailability of a concrete therapeutic regimen against viral infections. Further, inappropriate pharmacodynamic physicochemical and biological parameters such as low aqueous solubility, poor permeability, high affinity for plasm proteins, short biological half-lives, and fast elimination from the systemic circulation are the major critical factors that govern the suboptimal drug concentration at the target site that leads to the development of drug resistance. To address this issue, nanotechnology-based drug delivery approach is emerged as an altering method to attain the optimal drug concentration at the target site for a prolonged period by integrating the nanoengineering tools in the synthesis of nanoparticles. Nanodimensional configuration with enhanced permeability and retention effect, increased surface-area-to-volume ratio, provision for surface functionalization, etc., are the privileged aspects that make it an effective drug delivery system for dispensing the antiviral therapeutics. However, size, shape, charge, and surface topology of nanoparticles are the greater influential factors that determine target-specific drug delivery, optimum cellular uptake, degree of opsonization by the host immune cells, drug retention time, transcytosis, the extension of biological half-life, in vivo stability, and cytotoxicity. The review will enlighten the elaborative role of nanotechnology-based drug delivery and the major challenging aspect of clinical safety and efficacy.