Treatment of Viral Disease

Role of Nanotechnology in treatment of COVID-19

This viral outbreak requires some therapeutic strategies that are effective enough to fight against corona virus. Currently no official drugs have been announced by World Health Organization to treat Corona virus. On the base of experience some clinical and pharmaceutical experts suggests some antiviral medications and they have been used for clinical trials. These immunomodulatory and antiviral drugs include remdesivir, oseltamivir, favipiravir, darunavir/cobicistat, mycophenolate, tocilizumab, interferon, teicoplanin, convalescent plasma, and ribavirin, etc. The Food and Drug Administration on 28 March 2020, issued the oral formulation of Chloroquine Phosphate coupled with Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate to treat the corona virus disease. According to the current published literature in Belgium includes some guidelines that are supported and recommended from Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and France. In these guidelines they recommend the use of Hydroxyquine, Remdesivir, and Tocilizumab along with medical care and ventilation system. China and Japan used Favipiravir to treat influenza from decades, is also under COVID-19 treatment use. Chinese meditation also plays an important role to treat corona virus along with the proposed drugs. Shuanghuanglian is an oral liquid approved by Chinese academy of sciences in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. This oral liquid has antiviral and antibacterial properties and contains compounds such as baicalin and chlorogenic acid. At present as such no specific drug is used to treat virus but some are in the process of clinical trials.

However Nanotechnology has remarkably contributes in the treatment of COVID-19. These small size nanoparticles are used to reduce the risk and severity of disease [1]. At present as such no Nano based drugs are introduced to control the pandemic but in somehow near future, there are possibilities to introduce such types of drugs. For example, Zinc is a crucial nanoparticle and has several uses to the fight against COVID-19.

Zinc Nanoparticles

To increase the host cell resistance we use Zinc nanoparticles. Zinc is an important element that has strong antiviral resistance against many viral diseases like Common cold, Influenza, etc. So we also used Zinc in the treatment of COVID-19 viral infection and ultimately control the spread of infection. Zinc nanoparticle work by restricting the replication of virus within the host cell. Similarly Zinc oxide nanoparticles used to reduce the replication of influenza virus. Besides this zinc supplements are given to children in developing countries to reduce the risk of Pneumonia.

Working antiviral mechanism of Zinc was unidentified but it is clear that it is used to inhibit the replication of virus and ultimately reduces its chance to bind with mucosa membrane. In vitro studies reveal that zinc exercise antiviral effects by suppressing the generation of antiviral interferon type alpha and gamma and simply inhibit its inflammatory reactions. Zinc also enhances the immune system of cell to function properly and helps many enzymes to increase their catalytic activity. Current literature study shows that Zinc deficiency in diet enhances the susceptibility to various infections including both viral and bacterial. It was also seen that zinc deficiency suppresses the production of B-cells which unfortunately leads to the low quantity production of antibodies and produce macrophages that have low phagocytosis activity towards the bacterial cells. Specialist suggests the daily consumption of approximately 50mg zinc on daily basis can boots up the immune system of host cells. So, by the use of zinc nanoparticles we surely control the pandemic and reduce the chance of virus to permanently damage the immune system of the host. Ultimately we lower the severity of the disease and to some extent reduce the disease burden. Mask surface also contains some zinc oxide nanoparticles that are impregnated into its surface have strong efficiency for antiviral and antibacterial diseases. Main purpose of impregnated zinc oxide is to killing the harmful pathogens and stabilizes them on contact.

Intranasal delivery therapy

Already a number of methods were introduced to deliver the nanoparticles in the nasal cavity and ensure a safe treatment. As we know that the SARS-CoV-2 starts infection on the mucosal surface of the human respiratory track or in the nasal cavity. Delivery through the respiratory track is not only quit simple and cheap but it is highly convenient method as the nanoparticles are easily entered into the hepatic cells where they encounter a large surface area. Large surface area, small size is an important and crucial factor that facilitates the safe and effective treatment in the nasal cavity.

Types of Nanoparticles

There are three types of nanoparticles such as organic, inorganic, and virus type nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are designed and developed for suitable therapeutic purposes. Besides these nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles are also used for biomedical treatment.

Liposomes is the most common lipid nanoparticle, occurs in the form of spherical capsules. These are hydrophilic from inner side while its membrane contains phospholipid bilayer which made it highly specific.

Polymer nanoparticle is also an effective choice for delivery system. They have specific application and functions that are adjusted according to their size. Chitosan made polymer nanoparticles conjugated with therapeutic compounds may improves its penetration into mucosal tissues.