Potential Treatment Approaches to SARS-CoV-2 and Evaluation of Drug Carrier Systems in Treatment

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronaviruse-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome is packaged in a helical nucleocapsid surrounded by a lipid bilayer The virus envelope contains at least three viral proteins called spike protein (S), membrane protein (M) and envelope protein (E) While M and E form the structure of the virus, S protein is the leading agent of the entry of viruses into the host Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) has been identified as a functional receptor for coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Viral fusion is the main step in the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection It is thought that drugs that prevent spike protein and ACE-2 fusion, drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin aldesterone system, and a high dose ACE-2 can act on this fusion mechanism and take part in COVID-19 treatment In this context, especially nano-sized liposomal carriers attract attention due to their biocompatibility and cell-like structures in the treatment of infectious diseases There are studies in which liposomes are also used as a secondary therapeutic to support traditional anti-infective drugs In this review, therapeutic approaches that may reduce and treat the severity of the disease by preventing ACE-2 mediated entry of viruses are discussed