1. No small matter: a perspective on nanotechnology-enabled solutions to fight COVID-19
- Author
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Georgia Wilson, Jones, Marco P, Monopoli, Luisa, Campagnolo, Antonio, Pietroiusti, Lang, Tran, and Bengt, Fadeel
- Subjects
Models, Molecular ,Pneumonia, Viral ,coronavirus ,Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ,Antiviral Agents ,Betacoronavirus ,Drug Delivery Systems ,Models ,Humans ,Nanotechnology ,Viral ,Pandemics ,nanosafety ,Settore BIO/17 ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Drug Repositioning ,COVID-19 ,Molecular ,Pneumonia ,bio-mimicking particles ,nanomedicine ,Settore MED/44 ,Perspective ,cytokine storm ,Nanoparticles ,Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 ,Coronavirus Infections - Abstract
There is an urgent need for safe and effective approaches to combat COVID-19. Here, we asked whether lessons learned from nanotoxicology and nanomedicine could shed light on the current pandemic. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent, may trigger a mild, self-limiting disease with respiratory symptoms, but patients may also succumb to a life-threatening systemic disease. The host response to the virus is equally complex and studies are now beginning to unravel the immunological correlates of COVID-19. Nanotechnology can be applied for the delivery of antiviral drugs or other repurposed drugs. Moreover, recent work has shown that synthetic nanoparticles wrapped with host-derived cellular membranes may prevent virus infection. We posit that nanoparticles decorated with ACE2, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, could be exploited as decoys to intercept the virus before it infects cells in the respiratory tract. However, close attention should be paid to biocompatibility before such nano-decoys are deployed in the clinic.
- Published
- 2020