Abstract
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlights the importance of materials science in providing tools and technologies for antiviral research and treatment development. In this Review, we discuss previous efforts in materials science in developing imaging systems and microfluidic devices for the in-depth and real-time investigation of viral structures and transmission, as well as material platforms for the detection of viruses and the delivery of antiviral drugs and vaccines. We highlight the contribution of materials science to the manufacturing of personal protective equipment and to the design of simple, accurate and low-cost virus-detection devices. We then investigate future possibilities of materials science in antiviral research and treatment development, examining the role of materials in antiviral-drug design, including the importance of synthetic material platforms for organoids and organs-on-a-chip, in drug delivery and vaccination, and for the production of medical equipment. Materials-science-based technologies not only contribute to the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 research efforts but can also provide platforms and tools for the understanding, protection, detection and treatment of future viral diseases.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has spread around the world, leading to a global pandemic[1]
Materials science has long played a key role in the rapid response to emerging viral diseases by developing instruments that reveal the structures of viral proteins, by designing point-of-care devices for accurate and rapid detection and diagnosis 7,8, and by formulating therapeutic treatment and vaccination strategies[9]
In this Review, we discuss the role of materials science in antiviral research and highlight the importance of collaborations with virologists, epidemiologists and clinicians in addressing the global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2
Summary
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has spread around the world, leading to a global pandemic[1]. Materials science is important in all areas of antiviral research, including investigation of viral structure and biology, protection, detection, treatment and vaccination.
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