Nanotechnology enabled approaches against the pandemics. It is not only inspired by virology to develop novel delivery tools but also at the forefront in combatting dangerous viruses!
Nano-materials could be used to deliver drugs to the pulmonary system to inhibit interactions between angiotensin-converting enzymes to receptors and viral S protein. The concept of “nano-immunity by design” helps to design materials for immune modulation, stimulating and suppressing the immune responses..
Nanotechnology has an important role in diagnostics.
Concerning vaccine and immunization research, nanomaterials can assist in multiple ways to boost the up-regulation required by the immune system and to direct the immune response specifically against antigens.
Nanotechnology can offer alternative methods to classical disinfection protocols and may offer pathways to the development of self-disinfecting surfaces that would avoid contamination of the healthcare and housekeeping staff.
There are many opportunities for nanotechnology based solutions and the safety of air filter and mask devices.
The COVID-19 global emergency is making humans face unprecedented challenges. In this view, nanotechnology is inherently a field in which scientists converged cooperations for multi-problems.
The development of face masks and other protective materials that can capture the aerosol droplets, also immobilize and kill the virus would be a major step toward preventing the spreading of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Mountain evidence indicates that nanomaterials such as graphene, nanodiamonds, carbon nanotubes…and polystyrene particles bear an intrinsic capacity to activate the immune system, depending on their functionalization.
In particular, immuno-modulatory effects induced on the innate immune signaling have been demonstrated. For example, nanomaterials such as GO can elicit an inflammasome sensor (NLRP3)-dependent expression of IL-1B in macrophages.