Carbon nanotubes for rapid capturing of SARS-COV-2 virus: revealing a mechanistic aspect of binding based on computational studies

Emerging Trends of Gold Nanostructures for Point-of-Care Biosensor-Based Detection of COVID-19

In 2019, a worldwide pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged. SARS-CoV-2 is the deadly microorganism responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has caused millions of deaths and irreversible health problems worldwide. To restrict the spread of SARS-CoV-2, accurate detection of COVID-19 is essential for the identification and control of infected cases. Although recent detection technologies such as the real-time polymerase chain reaction delivers an accurate diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, they require a long processing duration, expensive equipment, and highly skilled personnel. Therefore, a rapid diagnosis with accurate results is indispensable to offer effective disease suppression. Nanotechnology is the backbone of current science and technology developments including nanoparticles (NPs) that can biomimic the corona and develop deep interaction with its proteins because of their identical structures on the nanoscale. Various NPs have been extensively applied in numerous medical applications, including implants, biosensors, drug delivery, and bioimaging. Among them, point-of-care biosensors mediated with gold nanoparticles (GNPSs) have received great attention due to their accurate sensing characteristics, which are widely used in the detection of amino acids, enzymes, DNA, and RNA in samples. GNPS have reconstructed the biomedical application of biosensors because of its outstanding physicochemical characteristics. This review provides an overview of emerging trends in GNP-mediated point-of-care biosensor strategies for diagnosing various mutated forms of human coronaviruses that incorporate different transducers and biomarkers. The review also specifically highlights trends in gold nanobiosensors for coronavirus detection, ranging from the initial COVID-19 outbreak to its subsequent evolution into a pandemic.

Nano-based techniques: A revolutionary approach to prevent covid-19 and enhancing human awareness

In every century of history, there are many new diseases emerged, which are not even cured by many developed countries. Today, despite of scientific development, new deadly pandemic diseases are caused by microorganisms. Hygiene is considered to be one of the best methods of avoiding such communicable diseases, especially viral diseases. Illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 was termed COVID-19 by the WHO, the acronym derived from "coronavirus disease 2019. The globe is living in the worst epidemic era, with the highest infection and mortality rate owing to COVID-19 reaching 6.89% (data up to March 2023). In recent years, nano biotechnology has become a promising and visible field of nanotechnology. Interestingly, nanotechnology is being used to cure many ailments and it has revolutionized many aspects of our lives. Several COVID-19 diagnostic approaches based on nanomaterial have been developed. The various metal NPs, it is highly anticipated that could be viable and economical alternatives for treating drug resistant in many deadly pandemic diseases in near future. This review focuses on an overview of nanotechnology's increasing involvement in the diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of COVID-19, also this review provides readers with an awareness and knowledge of importance of hygiene.

Interactions between carbon nanotubes and external structures of SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking and molecular dynamics

Molecular modeling techniques are used to describe the process of interaction between nanotubes and the main structures of the Covid-19 virus: the envelope protein, the main protease, and the Spike glycoprotein. Molecular docking studies show that the ligands have interaction characteristics capable of adsorbing the structures. Molecular dynamics simulations provide information on the mean squared deviation of atomic positions ​​between 0.5 and 3.0 Å. The Gibbs free energy model and solvent accessible surface area approaches are used. Through the results obtained through molecular dynamics simulations, it is noted that the zig-zag nanotube prefers to interact with E-pro, M-pro, and S-gly, respectively. Molecular couplings and free energy showed that the S-gly active site residues strongly interact with zigzag, chiral, and armchair nanotubes, in this order. The interactions demonstrated in this manuscript may predict some promising candidates for virus antagonists, which may be confirmed through experimental approaches.

Nanotechnology in the COVID-19 era: Carbon-based nanomaterials as a promising solution

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to collaboration between nanotechnology scientists, industry stakeholders, and clinicians to develop solutions for diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Nanomaterials, including carbon-based materials (CBM) such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, have been studied for their potential in viral research. CBM unique effects on microorganisms, immune interaction, and sensitivity in diagnostics have made them a promising subject of SARS-CoV-2 research. This review discusses the interaction of CBM with SARS-CoV-2 and their applicability, including CBM physical and chemical properties, the known interactions between CBM and viral components, and the proposed prevention, treatment, and diagnostics uses.

Rational design of multivalent biosensor surfaces to enhance viral particle capture

Viral particles bind to receptors through multivalent protein interactions. Such high avidity interactions on sensor surfaces are less studied. In this work, three polyelectrolytes that can form biosensing surfaces with different interfacial characteristics in probe density and spatial arrangement were designed. Quartz crystal microbalance, interferometry and atomic force microscopy were used to study their surface density and binding behaviors with proteins and virus particles. A multivalent adsorption kinetic model was developed to estimate the number of bonds from the viral particles bound to the polyelectrolyte surfaces. Experimental results show that the heterogeneous 3D surface with jagged forest-like structure enhances the virus capture ability by maximizing the multivalent interactions. As a proof of concept, specific coronavirus detection was achieved in spiked swab samples. These results indicate the importance of both probe density and their spatial arrangement on the sensing performance, which could be used as a guideline for rational biosensing surface design.

Functional Textile Materials for Blocking COVID-19 Transmission

The outbreak of COVID-19 provided a warning sign for society worldwide: that is, we urgently need to explore effective strategies for combating unpredictable viral pandemics. Protective textiles such as surgery masks have played an important role in the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, while revealing serious challenges in terms of supply, cross-infection risk, and environmental pollution. In this context, textiles with an antivirus functionality have attracted increasing attention, and many innovative proposals with exciting commercial possibilities have been reported over the past three years. In this review, we illustrate the progress of textile filtration for pandemics and summarize the recent development of antiviral textiles for personal protective purposes by cataloging them into three classes: metal-based, carbon-based, and polymer-based materials. We focused on the preparation routes of emerging antiviral textiles, providing a forward-looking perspective on their opportunities and challenges, to evaluate their efficacy, scale up their manufacturing processes, and expand their high-volume applications. Based on this review, we conclude that ideal antiviral textiles are characterized by a high filtration efficiency, reliable antiviral effect, long storage life, and recyclability. The expected manufacturing processes should be economically feasible, scalable, and quickly responsive.

The Emergence of Carbon Nanomaterials as Effective Nano-Avenues to Fight against COVID-19

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), a viral respiratory ailment that was first identified in Wuhan, China, in 2019, and then expanded globally, was caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The severity of the illness necessitated quick action to cease the virus's spread. The best practices to avert the infection include early detection, the use of protective clothing, the consumption of antiviral medicines, and finally the immunization of the patients through vaccination. The family of carbon nanomaterials, which includes graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotube (CNT), and carbon dot (CD), has a great deal of potential to effectively contribute to each of the main trails in the battle against the coronavirus. Consequently, the recent advances in the application of carbon nanomaterials for containing and combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus are discussed herein, along with their associated challenges and futuristic applicability.

Molecular and Macromolecular Interactions of Carbon-Based Nanostructures

The interactions of molecules and macromolecules with carbon nanostructures such as carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, and fullerenes, have been stimulating the interest of the researchers working on the preparation, functionalization, properties and applications of carbon-based nanomaterials [...].

Advances in Nanomaterial-Based Platforms to Combat COVID-19: Diagnostics, Preventions, Therapeutics, and Vaccine Developments

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2, a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that emerged less than two years ago but has caused nearly 6.1 million deaths to date. Recently developed variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been shown to be more potent and expanded at a faster rate. Until now, there is no specific and effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 in terms of reliable and sustainable recovery. Precaution, prevention, and vaccinations are the only ways to keep the pandemic situation under control. Medical and scientific professionals are now focusing on the repurposing of previous technology and trying to develop more fruitful methodologies to detect the presence of viruses, treat the patients, precautionary items, and vaccine developments. Nanomedicine or nanobased platforms can play a crucial role in these fronts. Researchers are working on many effective approaches by nanosized particles to combat SARS-CoV-2. The role of a nanobased platform to combat SARS-CoV-2 is extremely diverse (i.e., mark to personal protective suit, rapid diagnostic tool to targeted treatment, and vaccine developments). Although there are many theoretical possibilities of a nanobased platform to combat SARS-CoV-2, until now there is an inadequate number of research targeting SARS-CoV-2 to explore such scenarios. This unique mini-review aims to compile and elaborate on the recent advances of nanobased approaches from prevention, diagnostics, treatment to vaccine developments against SARS-CoV-2, and associated challenges.

Single-walled silicon nanotube as an exceptional candidate to eliminate SARS-CoV-2: a theoretical study

In this work, computational chemistry methods were used to study a silicon nanotube (Si₁₉₂H₁₆) as possible virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2. This virus is responsible for the COVID-19 disease. DFT calculations showed that the structural parameters of the Si₁₉₂H₁₆ nanotube are in agreement with the theoretical/experimental parameters reported in the literature. The low energy gap value (0.29 eV) shows that this nanotube is a semiconductor and exhibits high reactivity. For nanomaterials to be used as virucides, they need to have high reactivity and high inhibition constant values. Therefore, the adsorption of ³O₂ and H₂O on the surface of Si₁₉₂H₁₆ (Si₁₉₂H₁₆@O₂-H₂O) was performed. In this process, the formation and activation energies were -51.63 and 16.62 kcal/mol, respectively. Molecular docking calculations showed that the Si₁₉₂H₁₆ and Si₁₉₂H₁₆@O₂H-OH nanotubes bind favorably on the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with binding energy of -11.83 (Ki = 2.13 nM) and -11.13 (Ki = 6.99 nM) kcal/mol, respectively. Overall, the results obtained herein indicate that the Si₁₉₂H₁₆ nanotube is a potential candidate to be used against COVID-19 from reactivity process and/or steric impediment in the S-protein.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Graphene, Carbon Nanotube and Plasmonic Nanosensors for Detection of Viral Pathogens: Opportunities for Rapid Testing in Pandemics like COVID-19

With the emergence of global pandemics such as the Black Death (Plague), 1918 influenza, smallpox, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and currently the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there is an urgent, pressing medical need to devise methods of rapid testing and diagnostics to screen a large population of the planet. The important considerations for any such diagnostic test include: 1) high sensitivity (to maximize true positive rate of detection); 2) high specificity (to minimize false positives); 3) low cost of testing (to enable widespread adoption, even in resource-constrained settings); 4) rapid turnaround time from sample collection to test result; and 5) test assay without the need for specialized equipment. While existing testing methods for COVID-19 such as RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) offer high sensitivity and specificity, they are quite expensive – in terms of the reagents and equipment required, the laboratory expertise needed to run and interpret the test data, and the turnaround time. In this review, we summarize the recent advances made using carbon nanotubes for sensors; as a nanotechnology-based approach for diagnostic testing of viral pathogens; to improve the performance of the detection assays with respect to sensitivity, specificity and cost. Carbon nanomaterials are an attractive platform for designing biosensors due to their scalability, tunable functionality, photostability, and unique opto-electronic properties. Two possible approaches for pathogen detection using carbon nanomaterials are discussed here: 1) optical sensing, and 2) electrochemical sensing. We explore the chemical modifications performed to add functionality to the carbon nanotubes, and the physical, optical and/or electronic considerations used for testing devices or sensors fabricated using these carbon nanomaterials. Given this progress, it is reason to be cautiously optimistic that nanosensors based on carbon nanotubes, graphene technology and plasmonic resonance effects can play an important role towards the development of accurate, cost-effective, widespread testing capacity for the world’s population, to help detect, monitor and mitigate the spread of disease outbreaks.

Role of Serine Proteases and Host Cell Receptors Involved in Proteolytic Activation, Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Current Therapeutic Options

The current global pandemic of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 continues with its public health disaster beginning from late December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The scientific community has tried to fight against this novel coronavirus through vaccine development and designing different candidate drugs. However, there is no well-defined therapy to prevent 2019-nCov infection, thus complete prevention of the virus remains difficult. Therefore, it is a critical factor for death of millions worldwide. Many clinical trials and insights are ongoing in the struggle with this pandemic of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell requires host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78). On the other hand, proteolytic activation of the viral spike protein (S protein) needs the host cell serine proteases, including transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), cathepsins, trypsin and furin. This review focuses on the protein involved in the mechanism of entry, and proteolytic activation. In addition, it looks at current therapeutic options for SARS-CoV-2.

Fight against COVID-19 pandemic with the help of carbon-based nanomaterials

We have considered the newest momentous outcomes in carbon-based nanomaterials for utility in controlling and fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.