Nanobiotechnology

Assignment # 02
Assignment title:
 Use of Biomimetics and Bio-inspired
Nanotechnology to control the
COVID- 19: Prospects and challenges
Submitted to:
Dr. Shahid
Submitted by:
Iqra Akbar
Roll no.
16630
Biotechnology & Bioinformatics
6th semester evening

Government College University Faisalabad

Use of Biomimetics and Bio-inspired Nanotechnology to control
COVID- 19: Prospects and challenge

Abstract:
Introduction:
There are many infectious diseases caused by virus, bacteria and microorganisms which causes
severe diseases and lead to many deaths worldwide and some of the viral disease have drastic
effects on the environment. Although some achievements are made in the world of eliminating
infectious diseases but still not much effective and reliable because they have many sides effects
due to systematic exposure and developing drug resistance had now become a serious problem
globally. Moreover, virus mutations rate is very high so that it is difficult to obtain a successful
vaccine due to continuous changes and modification occurring in the strains of the virus.
Similarly, now a day world is facing a serious pandemic SARS-CoV-2 which effect globally
many people health, their personal life, working routine as well as now it is like a curse on the
world because of economically loss of every country worldwide. This epidemic totally changes
our ways of living and the way we perceive the world. It causes a fear in society as due to its
high transmission rate.

Coronaviruses are large group of viruses that are enveloped, single stranded, positive sense RNA
genome belong to coronaviradae family. These are zoonotic viruses that jump from animals to
human and cause wide range of infections like cold, respiratory diseases and some intestinal and
central nervous system disorders. Some coronaviruses are less pathogenic but the two of the
most pathogenic form of microorganisms are SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These two-
microorganism outbreak occur in 2002 in china and 2012 in Saudi Arabia respectively. [1,2,3]
Now a similar virus named as COVID-19 reported in china at the end of 2019 and now become a
global pandemic. [4] The mortality rate of this virus is less than previous two strains, but its
transmission rate is high that now it affects almost 215 countries worldwide. [5,6] The affected
person has similar symptoms to pneumonia patients. [7]
Currently, there is no effective vaccine that can eliminate the infection of SAS-CoV-2 but some
drugs are used that are available in market and effective for controlling SARS-Co-2. These are
chloroquine, Lopinavir, atazanavir, Fusogenix, Indinavir, Brilacidin and many others are used
for inhibition of COVID-19. [7] For viral treatment the most important thing under consideration
is inhibition of viral replication and in most case, protease is the enzyme for viral replication and
other processes like transcription and maturation. [8,9] At present approved protease inhibitors
are peptidomimetics which is structural base drug and bind with viral protease active site to
prevent proteolytic cleavage of certain proteins that are involves in replication. [10,11]
At present bioinspired nanotechnology and biomimetics are used for fighting against
COVID-19 like a nanocrystal-based coating on nanomaterials cause oxidation reaction and can
destroy viruses and bacteria, in the same manner Iran is producing N95 masks made of
nanofibers which can protect from nanoparticles and micro-sized nanoparticles and many other
uses which are described below in detail. Nano sensors are also used for the detection of the
viruses and bacteria strains in body.

Biomimetics and bioinspired technology-based nanoparticles against

COVID-19:
Virus like particles-based vaccines:
A biopharmaceutical company named as Medicago claimed the development of virus-
like-particles of the coronavirus after taking COVID-19 gene causing disease. This is the first
step in the development of vaccine and antibody against COVID-19. Medicago is also trying
to develop antibody against COVID-19 in collaboration with Laval University’s Infectious
Disease Research Centre (CRI). This center also discovered successful vaccine against Ebola
virus. Antibody treatment will be very effective against COVID-19. Plant derived virus like
particles are used as vaccine candidates and have the native structure of the virus, help the
immune system to recognize the virus. And, most importantly, these are non-infectious
particles that does not contain core genetic material. They can also engineer to contain an
antigen used as vaccine as well as immunomodulators. [12]

DNA-based vaccine:
 Liposome-based Fusogenic drug delivery technique:
It is proteo-lipid vehicle which involves the use of nanotechnology based novel
method to deliver its genetic material directly in cell.
 Here part of nanotechnology involves the use of liposome-based structure with high
efficiency of fusogenic drug delivery technique.This method involves the direct use of
plasmid encoding the antigen against virus and patients cell start producing antigen to help
the recognition of foreign virus and boost immune system. Now, the patient cell produces
multiple proteins epitopes against the COVID-19. The protein epitopes help the body to
produce natural antibodies and protect immune system COVID-19. [12]

Protein subunit-based vaccine

 Self-assembly nanoparticles-based vaccine:
Novavax produces recombinant protein nanoparticles by simply using
nanotechnology for designing the F-protein for self-assembly of nanoparticles to build the
RSV virus. Novavax produce recombinant protein nanoparticles by simply using
nanotechnology for designing the F-proteins for self-assembly of nanoparticles to build the
RSV virus. They used recombinant protein nanoparticles to create the antigens that are
obtained from the spikes of coronaviruses to enhance immune response. Novavax use
Matrix-M which have saponin, cholesterol and phospholipids to generate a particle for
vaccine antigens. These saponin based nanoparticles help in the entry of antigen into certain
sites in cell. [12]

Viral Vector-based vaccine

 Virosome-based vaccines:
A virosome-based vaccine is developed through simply creating a nanoscale viral
vector to deliver vaccines. Janssen vaccine company is now working for successful
development of nanoparticle-based virosome vaccine. This company also produce successful
vaccines against Zika, Ebola, RSV and HIV viruses and have certain advantages, also
involves the use of adenovirus vector as a gene carrier.In the same way another virosome-
based vaccine is generated through using the horsepox virus that are created to express the
spikes proteins of COVID-19. And the most important thing is that horsepox is a potential
vector to carry vaccine as it works against the infectious diseases. So, the novel research is
about developing a horsepox-based vaccine which express the spikes proteins of COVID-19
to prevent the disease. It also involves the collaboration of three vaccines candidates named
as TNX-1810, TNX-1820 and TNX-1830. And the orthopoxviruses can help to boost and
strong the innate immune system with long lasting T-cell immunity. [13]
RNA-based Vaccine:
 Self-assembly RNA-based nanoparticles vaccine:
It involves the use of the self-replicating RNA-based nanoparticles by taking the
leading Nano-particle non-viral delivery system to generate the human proteins inside the
body. Arcturus and Duke-nus are working in collaboration for developing RNA-based self-
replicating vaccine. And the Duke-nus is also working on the front line in fight against
COVID-19 by developing serological tests and firstly isolate and cultured the virus. The
STARR company platform is working for the development of self-replicating RNA-based
vaccine. [12]

Use of Nanoparticles in fight against COVID-19:

 Silver-coated Iron oxide nanoparticles:
Iron oxide nanoparticles are used for fight against COVID-19 in a surprising way. A
small iron oxide nanoparticle that are coated with silica have strong binding ability toward
RNA, which is the genetic material of COVID-19. It is very helpful for large scale testing of
COVID-19 in current situation. [14]
 Gold nanoparticles:
These nanoparticles are used in wide reactions as a catalyst, drug delivery, therapeutic
agents and sensory probes. It was also stated that the coating of ligands of Sulphur
(sulfonated ligands) and silver nanoparticles can bind with glycoprotein of HIV and can
pretend HIV infection. Recently, as we know world is facing a serious pandemic so, the
world is running short of the testing required for virus confirmation based on the traditional
methods like PCR. So, china created another test based on the detection of antibodies IgM
and IgG in body which work for natural defense against virus. This test is rather very fast and
have more accuracy. It gives result of positive test in 3 minutes and negative in 15 minutes.
And the most importantly this test is also used for the asymptomatic carriers, as these are
dangerous because it can spread without any symptoms so, it is difficult to control situation
right now. This test makes it easy for testing of asymptomatic carriers through antibody
detection test kit at large scale. The Nano-foundation world is now working in collaboration
with labs, as they combined COVID-19 IgM and IgG with the colloidal gold methods and
conducting IgG and IgM antibody colloidal Gold method test. [15]
  Silver nanoparticles:
Metal nanoparticles are one of the most well-known nanoparticles for antiviral
activity like silver nanoparticles that are involved in the inhibition of replication of virus and it
was reported that silver nanoparticles can inhibit the virus entry into body of host cells like they
can interact with the cell receptor of HIV so, it inhibits HIV-virus entry in cell. As these are
antiviral substance so in nanoworld generate an antiviral spray through titanium oxide and silver
nanoparticles which are used in Italy for building sterilization and disinfection and as far as
Italian based nanoworld company which made paints and detergents of nanoparticles made this
disinfection spray through titanium oxide and silver nanoparticles. [16]

Nanofiber-based facial respirators:

Nanofiber-based facial respirators with nanotechnology-empowerment greatly effective
antimicrobial and antiviral antiseptic, have been developed the 1st exclusive protective means
that they can prevent the spreadness of virus; additionally, more research is required to produce a
vaccine for COVID-19 that depends on various nanomaterials. Nanomedicines are still in the
attention of researchers for the treatment and last but not least are in the treatment phase and
some of it are in clinical trials.

Nanopore’s Minion Device Enables Real-time COVID-19 Genome

Sequencing:
In UK, ACOVID-19 genome sequencing union has been made for the huge scope examination
of the new coronavirus by utilizing Oxford Nanopore's Minion lab equipment, which is the main
compact, real time instrument that is able to conduct DNA and RNA sequencing investigation of
all the samples gathered from all patients with positive COVID-19 tests, and aim behind this is
to get better insight about how virus transmit and modify. Nanopore devise gives us fast
sequencing of whole genome of the virus within just 7 hours, on the portable Minion devise or
desktop Grid ION devices. [17]

Inorganic nanoparticles:
Extensive study is present on the biologically impacts of inorganic nanoparticles for example
metal oxides nanoparticles, that have excellent qualities in antibacterial and antifungal studies.
Being using in biological applications due to its easily synthesis, biocompatibility etc. These
nanoparticles have a superior action against respiratory viruses and same in case of COVID-19.
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