Biomolecular interactions with nanoparticles: applications for coronavirus disease 2019

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101461Get rights and content

Abstract

Nanoparticles are small particles sized 1–100 nm, which have a large surface-to-volume ratio, allowing efficient adsorption of drugs, proteins, and other chemical compounds. Consequently, functionalized nanoparticles have potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. A variety of nanoparticles have been studied, including those constructed from inorganic materials, biopolymers, and lipids. In this review, we focus on recent work targeting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Understanding the interactions between coronavirus-specific proteins (such as the spike protein and its host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) with different nanoparticles paves the way to the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics that are urgently needed for the fight against COVID-19, and indeed for related future viral threats that may emerge.

Graphical abstract

Schematic representation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein receptor-binding domain decorating a nanoparticle. The proteins are shown as a secondary structure colored in pink, whereas one of them is represented as a red surface complexed with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is shown in dark blue.

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Keywords

Nanoparticles
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Proteins
Therapeutics
Diagnostics

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