Nanostructured coatings based on metallic nanoparticles as viral entry inhibitor to combat COVID-19

The rapid transmission of contagious viruses responsible for global pandemic and various extraordinary risk to precious human life including death. For instance, the current ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a communicable disease which is transmitted via touching the contaminated surfaces and then nosocomial route. In absence of effective vaccines and therapies, antiviral coatings are essential in order to prevent or slowdown rapid transmission of viruses. In this prospective, sustainable nanotechnology and material engineering have provided substantial contribution in development of engineered nanomaterial based antiviral coated surfaces to the humanity. In the recent past, nanomaterials based on silver (Ag), titanium oxide (TiO2), copper sulfide (CuS) and copper oxide (CuO) have been modified in the form of engineered nanomaterials with effective antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. In this review, various recent fundamental aspects for fabrication of metallic nanoparticles (Ag, Ti, Cu etc.) based coated surfaces on various substrates and their antiviral efficacy to inhibit viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 are discussed along with their respective conceptual mechanisms. The antiviral mechanism based on chemistry of engineered nanomaterials is the key outcome of this review that would be useful for future research in designing and development of more advance antiviral materials and coated surfaces in order to control of future epidemics.

Surface engineering using PDMS and functionalized nanoparticles for superhydrophobic coatings: Selective liquid repellence and tackling COVID-19

Recently, synthesis and design of bioinspired nanostructured coated surfaces with exceptional selective liquid repellency (superhydrophobicity) have been a fascinating area of research because of their excellent utility in various applications from our daily life to industry level. In this context, superhydrophobic coatings by the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) along with functionalized nanoparticles have been reported widely for oil/water separation, antimicrobial ability and antiviral surface coatings to prevent the transmission of contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). PDMS is mechanically stable and highly flexible silicone polymer and can be irreversibly bound to various types of surfaces in order to provide superhydrophobicity. This review highlights the latest innovations in the research area of PDMS based nano-engineered superhydrophobic coatings on various surfaces. Particular attention has been paid toward the application of such superhydrophobic surfaces for the separation of oily contaminants from water as well as antimicrobial and antiviral efficacy in order to reduce the transmission of toxic pathogens including contagious COVID-19. Technical breakthrough and mechanistic concepts behind the success of PDMS based superhydrophobic coatings have been reviewed and discussed in these selected applications. It is expected that this study will be highly useful to lead future research in order to tackle the transmission of viral outbreaks in the coming future similar to the currently ongoing pandemic of COVID-19.

ZRC3308 Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail Shows Protective Efficacy in Syrian Hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

We have developed a monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktail (ZRC-3308) comprising of ZRC3308-A7 and ZRC3308-B10 in the ratio 1:1 for COVID-19 treatment. The mAbs were designed to have reduced immune effector functions and increased circulation half-life. mAbs showed good binding affinities to non-competing epitopes on RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and were found neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1, B.1.1.7, B.1.351, B.1.617.2, and B.1.617.2 AY.1 in vitro. The mAb cocktail demonstrated effective prophylactic and therapeutic activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamsters. The antibody cocktail appears to be a promising candidate for prophylactic use and for therapy in early COVID-19 cases that have not progressed to severe disease.

India - US Relations: Continued Convergence, New Vistas, Managing Differences

Trump walked out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade;raised tariffs on imports from China as well as European and Asian allies and partners;decried US global commitments;pushed European allies into spending more on their defence;forcing Asian allies to pay more for American bases;and worked to end US military involvement in Syria and Afghanistan. Since 1990s, post the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US had led the world towards the globalisation of trade and production. Continued Convergence The Indo-Pacific will provide for the continued convergence of interests of India and the US. Since the George Bush administration, there has been a growing sense in the US of the potential challenge from China, and the resulting need also to reinvigorate the India relationship. At his confirmation hearing on January 19, Secretary of State designate, Tony Blinken, said that he agreed with the substance of Trump's policy on China, and his predecessor Mike Pompeo's formal characterisation of Chinese actions against Uyghurs in Xinjiang as "genocide".10 Secretary of Defence designate, Lloyd Austin, said, at his own hearing the same day, that Asia would be the focus of US effort, and he saw "China, in particular, as the pacing challenge".11 Following Blinken's February 5 call to Yang Jiechi (Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party), the spokesperson of the State Department said that, 'Secretary Blinken stressed the United States will continue to stand up for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and pressed China to join the international community in condemning the military coup in Burma.

Immunogenic potential of DNA vaccine candidate, ZyCoV-D against SARS-CoV-2 in animal models.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), initially originated in China in year 2019 and spread rapidly across the globe within 5 months, causing over 96 million cases of infection and over 2 million deaths. Huge efforts were undertaken to bring the COVID-19 vaccines in clinical development, so that it can be made available at the earliest, if found to be efficacious in the trials. We developed a candidate vaccine ZyCoV-D comprising of a DNA plasmid vector carrying the gene encoding the spike protein (S) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The S protein of the virus includes the receptor binding domain (RBD), responsible for binding to the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE-2) receptor. The DNA plasmid construct was transformed into E. coli cells for large scale production. The immunogenicity potential of the plasmid DNA has been evaluated in mice, guinea pig, and rabbit models by intradermal route at 25, 100 and 500 µg dose. Based on the animal studies proof-of-concept has been established and preclinical toxicology (PCT) studies were conducted in rat and rabbit model. Preliminary animal study demonstrates that the candidate DNA vaccine induces antibody response including neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and also elicited Th-1 response as evidenced by elevated IFN-γ levels.