Nano-based Strategies Against COVID-19: Prevention and Therapeutics

COVID-19 disease is an ongoing global pandemic caused by contagious SARS-CoV-2 and represents an unprecedented public health concern. No treatment for COVID-19 is validated yet, however various vaccines are approved for emergency use. Due to rapid virus spread and disease outbreak, an alternative approach to combat the virus is essentially required. In this regard, nanotechnology certainly offers new opportunities to develop safe, sustainable, and novel approaches for effective prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Various such approaches under research and development include inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cell by nanoparticles or membrane derived nanodecoys, prevention of viral contamination via disinfectants, nano-based drug delivery system for targeted, sustained and controlled drug release, and nano-based vaccines to boost cellular and humoral responses.