ABSTRACT
Viruses have caused some of most deadly epidemics and pandemics of humanity. They can cause major health problems, the collapse of the health and economic systems, as well as have negative social and psychological implications. Although science has aided in the management of some viruses, it still requires additional research on new and emerging viruses. The virus SARS-CoV-2 has caused the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the death of many people globally. Several vaccinations have been developed to try to eradicate the virus;however, due to the high mutation rate of the virus, vaccines are still rigorously tested in research and trials. Nanotechnology is a pretty modern technology that offers the potential to treat viruses. For the introduction of advanced antiviral medicines and vaccines, research in this field is becoming increasingly crucial. Furthermore, in a pandemic situation, employing nanomaterials to regulate drug distribution can be a fantastic method to make them successful across a broad range of activity. This book chapter is aimed to highlight recent studies and new technologies on the use of nanomaterials as antiviral therapy, focusing on the drug delivery system, its principles, potential, and economic viability. Because we are in the midst of a COVID-19 epidemic, this research is critical in determining the potential of nanotechnology in medicine, as well as future prospects for drug delivery and nanotherapies generated from NPs of promising nanomaterials. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology is the recent emerging technology in the field of therapeutics and diagnostics. Nanomaterials play a crucial role in diagnosis, drug delivery, drug formulations, and therapy to overcome several life-threatening diseases like diabetes, cancer, bacterial and fungal infections, neurodegenerative diseases, and AIDS. Viruses and viral infections are problematic due to their wide-spreading nature and also the ability to sustain the development through genetic mutation. In the last few decades, the cases of viral infections have severely increased including SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), Nipah virus, Zika virus, dengue fever, and the recent global pandemic COVID-19. These episodes of viral epidemics have emerged unexpectedly and caused substantial damage to the social and economic structure of society. Due to the high mortality rate and global transmission capacity viral infections need immediate attention for the development of detection, treatment, and vaccination techniques. Nanoparticles due to their unique properties and smaller size offer a plethora of opportunities in the field of medical innovations. Nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches and their drug delivery potential can essentially help in the diagnosis and therapy of virus-related infections. In the present chapter, we provide an overview of virus-related infections and nanotechnology-based solutions for the detection, drug delivery, and treatment of virus infections have been discussed. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.