Abstract
Rapidly growing viral infections are potent risks to public health worldwide. Accessible virus-specific antiviral vaccines and drugs are therapeutically inert to emerging viruses, such as Zika, Ebola, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, discovering ways to prevent and control viral infections is among the foremost medical challenge of our time. Recently, innovative technologies are emerging that involve the development of new biomaterial-based formulations and surfaces endowed with broad-spectrum antiviral properties. Here, we review emerging biomaterials technologies for controlling viral infections. Relevant advances in biomaterials employed with nanotechnology to inactivate viruses or to inhibit virus replication and further their translation in safe and effective antiviral formulations in clinical trials are discussed. We have included antiviral approaches based on both organic and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), which offer many advantages over molecular medicine. An insight into the development of immunomodulatory scaffolds in designing new platforms for personalized vaccines is also considered. Substantial research on natural products and herbal medicines and their potential in novel antiviral drugs are discussed. Furthermore, to control contagious viral infections, i.e., to reduce the viral load on surfaces, current strategies focusing on biomimetic anti-adhesive surfaces through nanostructured topography and hydrophobic surface modification techniques are introduced. Biomaterial surfaces functionalized with antimicrobial polymers and nanoparticles against viral infections are also discussed. We recognize the importance of research on antiviral biomaterials and present potential strategies for future directions in applying these biomaterial-based approaches to control viral infections and SARS-CoV-2.
Highlights
In the current world, viral infections pose a formidable challenge to human life
Biomaterials technology provides a platform for co-encapsulation of antigens and immunostimulants and cargo protection against enzymatic degradation and allows targeting of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and controlled vaccine release kinetics.[5]
To increase the vaccine potency, iron oxide NP (IONP) coated with mannose and HBsAg have been used to target receptors on dendritic cells (DCs) that showed a positive effect with higher immune responses in mice.[59]
Summary
Viral infections pose a formidable challenge to human life. Virus-triggered lower respiratory infections, for example, influenza, pneumonia, and bronchitis, are the leading cause of millions of deaths worldwide and a rise in costs of healthcare.[1]. In the event of new epidemics or pandemics, contaminated surfaces have played a significant role in the rapid spread of viral infection, in crowded places, public transport systems, indoor establishments, business offices, and healthcare facilities, and have shown a direct and dramatic effect on morbidity and mortality around the world.[9,10] Notably, interruption of indirect transmission of pathogens can be accomplished with self-disinfecting surfaces by the application of antimicrobial coatings that will bring down the labor and time spent in decontaminating the surfaces In this quest, both conventional methods and advanced surface modification techniques have been used to kill or efficiently reduce the attachment of pathogenic microbes on different material surfaces. We have discussed future prospects to further advance the biomaterial technologies against emerging infectious diseases and COVID-19 (Fig. 5)
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