Nanotechnology-based diagnostic methods for coronavirus: From nucleic acid extraction to amplification.

The recent emergence of human coronaviruses (CoVs) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is posing a great threat to global public health. Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic viruses plays a vital role in selecting appropriate treatments, saving people's lives and preventing epidemics. Nucleic acids, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), are natural biopolymers composed of nucleotides that store, transmit, and express genetic information. Applications of nucleic acid detection range from genotyping and genetic prognostics, to expression profiling and detection of infectious disease. The nucleic acid detection for infectious diseases is widely used, as evidenced by the widespread use of COVID-19 tests for the containment of the pandemic. Nanotechnology influences all medical disciplines and has been considered as an essential tool for novel diagnostics, nanotherapeutics, vaccines, medical imaging, and the utilization of biomaterials for regenerative medicine. In this review, the recent advances in the development of nanotechnology-based diagnostic methods for coronavirus, and their applications in nucleic acid detection are discussed in detail. The techniques for the amplification of nucleic acids are summarized, as well as the use of magnetic nanoparticles for nucleic acid extraction. Besides, current challenges and future prospects are proposed, along with the great potential of nanotechnology for the effective diagnosis of coronavirus.

Antimicrobial Peptides and Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Non-Antibiotic Membrane-Targeting Strategies Against Bacterial Infections.

The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been rising quickly in recent years. AMR has emerged as a significant obstacle to the treatment of infectious diseases, and many attempts have been made over the past decades to find the best antimicrobials to overcome it. Therefore, it is crucial to find new medicines to combat the global rise of AMR. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which target membranes, are promising antibiotic substitutes. AMPs and CPPs are short amino acid sequences with antibacterial activity as well as possible therapeutic benefits. In this review, we provide a thorough and systematic introduction to the advancement of research on AMPs and CPPs, including information on their classification, mechanism of action, current state of application, limitations and optimization.