Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle-mediated interleukin-12 delivery for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy

The IL-12 family of cytokines: pathogenetic role in diabetic retinopathy and therapeutic approaches to correction

One vision-threatening side effect of systematic diabetes mellitus is diabetic retinopathy (DR). Recent studies have revealed that the development and progression of DR depend critically on inflammation resulting from diabetes. By attracting leukocytes to endothelium, the higher production of the inflammatory mediators induces degeneration of retinal capillaries, hence increasing vascular permeability and thrombosis probability. The leukocytes that are recruited eventually generate additional proinflammatory and proangiogenic substances, resulting in the increased infiltration of leukocytes in the retina. This process also leads to changes in the blood retinal barrier and the formation of new blood vessels, which helps to counteract the damage caused by the blockage of blood flow. IL-12 family members, IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35, play a crucial role in regulating the responses of T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cell populations. The collected data from studies investigating the levels of IL-12 family members in the blood and eye tissues suggest that IL-12 is linked to DR, indicating that it may have a role in the development of DR as a sequential component of the immune response. This review specifically examines the possibility of using IL-12 family cytokines as a therapeutic approach for diabetes, taking into consideration their involvement in the development of DR.

Recent Advances in Nanomedicine for Ocular Fundus Neovascularization Disease Management

As an indispensable part of the human sensory system, visual acuity may be impaired and even develop into irreversible blindness due to various ocular pathologies. Among ocular diseases, fundus neovascularization diseases (FNDs) are prominent etiologies of visual impairment worldwide. Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs remains the primary therapy but is hurdled by common complications and incomplete potency. To renovate the current therapeutic modalities, nanomedicine emerged as the times required, which is endowed with advanced capabilities, able to fulfill the effective ocular fundus drug delivery and achieve precise drug release control, thus further improving the therapeutic effect. This review provides a comprehensive summary of advances in nanomedicine for FND management from state-of-the-art studies. First, the current therapeutic modalities for FNDs are thoroughly introduced, focusing on the key challenges of ocular fundus drug delivery. Second, nanocarriers are comprehensively reviewed for ocular posterior drug delivery based on the nanostructures: polymer-based nanocarriers, lipid-based nanocarriers, and inorganic nanoparticles. Thirdly, the characteristics of the fundus microenvironment, their pathological changes during FNDs, and corresponding strategies for constructing smart nanocarriers are elaborated. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of nanomedicine for FND management are thoroughly discussed.

Recent Updates on Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery in Posterior Segment Diseases with Emphasis on Diabetic Retinopathy

In recent years, various conventional formulations have been used for the treatment and/or management of ocular medical conditions. Diabetic retinopathy, a microvascular disease of the retina, remains the leading cause of visual disability in patients with diabetes. Currently, for treating diabetic retinopathy, only intraocular, intravitreal, periocular injections, and laser photocoagulation are widely used. Frequent administration of these drugs by injections may lead to serious complications, including retinal detachment and endophthalmitis. Although conventional ophthalmic formulations like eye drops, ointments, and suspensions are available globally, these formulations fail to achieve optimum drug therapeutic profile due to immediate nasolacrimal drainage, rapid tearing, and systemic tearing toxicity of the drugs. To achieve better therapeutic outcomes with prolonged release of the therapeutic agents, nano-drug delivery materials have been investigated. These nanocarriers include nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), dendrimers, nanofibers, in-situ gel, vesicular carriers, niosomes, and mucoadhesive systems, among others. The nanocarriers carry the potential benefits of site-specific delivery and controlled and sustained drug release profile. In the present article, various nanomaterials explored for treating diabetic retinopathy are reviewed.

Glycosylation-Engineered Platelet Membrane-Coated Interleukin 10 Nanoparticles for Targeted Inhibition of Vascular Restenosis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to improve the immune compatibility and targeting abilities of IL10 nanoparticles coated with platelet membrane (IL10-PNPs) by glycosylation engineering in order to effectively reduce restenosis after vascular injury.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we removed sialic acids and added α (1,2)-fucose and α (1,3)-fucose to platelet membrane glycoprotein, thus engineering the glycosylation of IL10-PNPs (IL10-GE-PNPs). In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate the targeting and regulatory effects of IL10-GE-PNPs on macrophage polarization, as well as the influence of IL10-GE-PNPs on the phenotypic transformation, proliferation, and migration of smooth muscle cells, and its potential in promoting the repair function of endothelial cells within an inflammatory environment. In order to assess the distribution of IL10-GE-PNP in different organs, in vivo imaging experiments were conducted.

Results

IL10-GE-PNPs were successfully constructed and demonstrated to effectively target and regulate macrophage polarization in both in vitro and in vivo settings. This regulation resulted in reduced proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells and promoted the repair of endothelial cells in an inflammatory environment. Consequently, restenosis after vascular injury was reduced. Furthermore, the deposition of IL10-GE-PNPs in the liver and spleen was significantly reduced compared to IL10-PNPs.

Conclusion

IL10-GE-PNPs emerged as a promising candidate for targeting vascular injury and exhibited potential as an innovative drug delivery system for suppressing vascular restenosis. The engineered glycosylation of IL10-PNPs improved their immune compatibility and targeting abilities, making them an excellent therapeutic option.

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Drug-Delivery Systems for Ocular Diseases

Ocular drug delivery is a challenging field due to the unique anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye. Biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising tools for efficient and controlled drug delivery in ocular diseases. This review provides an overview of biodegradable polymer-based drug-delivery systems for ocular diseases with emphasis on the potential for biodegradable polymers to overcome the limitations of conventional methods, allowing for sustained drug release, improved bioavailability, and targeted therapy. Natural and synthetic polymers are both discussed, highlighting their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Various formulation strategies, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and microemulsions, among others, are investigated, detailing preparation methods, drug encapsulation, and clinical applications. The focus is on anterior and posterior segment drug delivery, covering glaucoma, corneal disorders, ocular inflammation, retinal diseases, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Safety considerations, such as biocompatibility evaluations, in vivo toxicity studies, and clinical safety, are addressed. Future perspectives encompass advancements, regulatory considerations, and clinical translation challenges. In conclusion, biodegradable polymers offer potential for efficient and targeted ocular drug delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing side effects. Further research is needed to optimize formulation strategies and address regulatory requirements for successful clinical implementation.

Tocotrienol-rich fraction reduces retinal inflammation and angiogenesis in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the second commonest microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by chronic inflammation and angiogenesis. Palm oil-derived tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF), a substance with anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties, may provide protection against DR development. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of TRF on retinal vascular and morphological changes in diabetic rats. The effects of TRF on the retinal expression of inflammatory and angiogenic markers were also studied in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g were grouped into normal rats (N) and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body weight) whereas N similarly received citrate buffer. STZ-injected rats with blood glucose of more than 20 mmol/L were considered diabetic and were divided into vehicle-treated (DV) and TRF-treated (DT) groups. N and DV received vehicle, whereas DT received TRF (100 mg/kg body weight) via oral gavage once daily for 12 weeks. Fundus images were captured at week 0 (baseline), week 6 and week 12 post-STZ induction to estimate vascular diameters. At the end of experimental period, rats were euthanized, and retinal tissues were collected for morphometric analysis and measurement of NFκB, phospho-NFκB (Ser536), HIF-1α using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Retinal inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines expression were measured by ELISA and real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

TRF preserved the retinal layer thickness (GCL, IPL, INL and OR; p < 0.05) and retinal venous diameter (p < 0.001). TRF also lowered the retinal NFκB activation (p < 0.05) as well as expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, iNOS and MCP-1 (p < 0.05) compared to vehicle-treated diabetic rats. Moreover, TRF also reduced retinal expression of VEGF (p < 0.001), IGF-1 (p < 0.001) and HIF-1α (p < 0.05) compared to vehicle-treated rats with diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Oral TRF provided protection against retinal inflammation and angiogenesis in rats with STZ-induced diabetes by suppressing the expression of the markers of retinal inflammation and angiogenesis.

Lutein loaded double-layered polymer nanocarrier modulate H2O2 and CoCl2 induced oxidative and hypoxia damage and angiogenic markers in ARPE-19 cells

Lutein plays a crucial role in the protection of retina by diminishing oxidative stress in diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, its poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability and low bioavailability edge its application. Also, beneficial effects of lutein supplementation and lower lutein levels in the serum and retina of DR patients created an interest in nanopreparation. Hence, lutein-loaded chitosan‑sodium alginate nanocarrier comprising oleic acid core (LNCs) was developed and examined its protective effect on hyperglycemia-mediated changes in oxidative stress and angiogenesis in ARPE-19 cells. Results showed that the LNCs have smaller size and a smooth spherical morphology and did not affect the ARPE-19 cell viability (up to 20 μM) and showed higher cellular uptake in both normal and H₂O₂-induced stress conditions. LNCs pre-treatment suppressed the H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and CoCl₂-induced hypoxia-mediated elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde levels by restoring antioxidant enzymes in ARPE-19 cells. Further, LNCs protected H₂O₂-mediated down-regulation of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzymes. LNCs also restored the H₂O₂-altered angiogenic (Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) and Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)), endoplasmic reticulum stress (activating transcription factor-4 (ATF4)) and tight junction (Zona occludens 1 (ZO-1)) markers. To conclude, we could successfully develop biodegradable LNCs to improve the cellular uptake of lutein to treat DR by curtailing oxidative stress in retina.

Overcoming Treatment Challenges in Posterior Segment Diseases with Biodegradable Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Posterior segment eye diseases present a challenge in treatment due to the complex structures in the eye that serve as robust static and dynamic barriers, limiting the penetration, residence time, and bioavailability of topical and intraocular medications. This hinders effective treatment and requires frequent dosing, such as the regular use of eye drops or visits to the ophthalmologist for intravitreal injections, to manage the disease. Moreover, the drugs must be biodegradable to minimize toxicity and adverse reactions, as well as small enough to not affect the visual axis. The development of biodegradable nano-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) can be the solution to these challenges. First, they can stay in ocular tissues for longer periods of time, reducing the frequency of drug administration. Second, they can pass through ocular barriers, offering higher bioavailability to targeted tissues that are otherwise inaccessible. Third, they can be made up of polymers that are biodegradable and nanosized. Hence, therapeutic innovations in biodegradable nanosized DDS have been widely explored for ophthalmic drug delivery applications. In this review, we will present a concise overview of DDSs utilized in the treatment of ocular diseases. We will then examine the current therapeutic challenges faced in the management of posterior segment diseases and explore how various types of biodegradable nanocarriers can enhance our therapeutic arsenal. A literature review of the pre-clinical and clinical studies published between 2017 and 2023 was conducted. Through the advances in biodegradable materials, combined with a better understanding of ocular pharmacology, the nano-based DDSs have rapidly evolved, showing great promise to overcome challenges currently encountered by clinicians.

Polymer- and lipid-based nanocarriers for ocular drug delivery: Current status and future perspectives

Ocular diseases seriously affect patients' vision and life quality, with a global morbidity of over 43 million blindness. However, efficient drug delivery to treat ocular diseases, particularly intraocular disorders, remains a huge challenge due to multiple ocular barriers that significantly affect the ultimate therapeutic efficacy of drugs. Recent advances in nanocarrier technology offer a promising opportunity to overcome these barriers by providing enhanced penetration, increased retention, improved solubility, reduced toxicity, prolonged release, and targeted delivery of the loaded drug to the eyes. This review primarily provides an overview of the progress and contemporary applications of nanocarriers, mainly polymer- and lipid-based nanocarriers, in treating various eye diseases, highlighting their value in achieving efficient ocular drug delivery. Additionally, the review covers the ocular barriers and administration routes, as well as the prospective future developments and challenges in the field of nanocarriers for treating ocular diseases.

[Nanotechnologies in ophthalmology]

Application of new materials and methods in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases is one of the promising research areas in modern ophthalmology. Significant progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases using nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. This paper presents the main achievements and results of original research on this issue. It has been shown that nanoparticles are able to overcome biological barriers, deliver drugs to the target site, and provide the required drug release rate. Modern nanotechnological approaches in tissue engineering are also being actively introduced into ophthalmology, making it possible to create nanoframeworks for growing three-dimensional cellular structures, including arrays of pigment epithelium cells and retinal ganglion cells for the treatment of retinal damage caused by degenerative diseases, injuries and infections.

Effective treatment of intractable diseases using nanoparticles to interfere with vascular supply and angiogenic process

Angiogenesis is a vital biological process involving blood vessels forming from pre-existing vascular systems. This process contributes to various physiological activities, including embryonic development, hair growth, ovulation, menstruation, and the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. On the other hand, it is essential in treating a wide range of pathological diseases, such as cardiovascular and ischemic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, malignancies, ophthalmic and retinal diseases, and other chronic conditions. These diseases and disorders are frequently treated by regulating angiogenesis by utilizing a variety of pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic agents or molecules by stimulating or suppressing this complicated process, respectively. Nevertheless, many traditional angiogenic therapy techniques suffer from a lack of ability to achieve the intended therapeutic impact because of various constraints. These disadvantages include limited bioavailability, drug resistance, fast elimination, increased price, nonspecificity, and adverse effects. As a result, it is an excellent time for developing various pro- and anti-angiogenic substances that might circumvent the abovementioned restrictions, followed by their efficient use in treating disorders associated with angiogenesis. In recent years, significant progress has been made in different fields of medicine and biology, including therapeutic angiogenesis. Around the world, a multitude of research groups investigated several inorganic or organic nanoparticles (NPs) that had the potential to effectively modify the angiogenesis processes by either enhancing or suppressing the process. Many studies into the processes behind NP-mediated angiogenesis are well described. In this article, we also cover the application of NPs to encourage tissue vascularization as well as their angiogenic and anti-angiogenic effects in the treatment of several disorders, including bone regeneration, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, ischemic stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, post-ischemic cardiovascular injury, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, gene delivery-based angiogenic therapy, protein delivery-based angiogenic therapy, stem cell angiogenic therapy, and diabetic retinopathy, cancer that may benefit from the behavior of the nanostructures in the vascular system throughout the body. In addition, the accompanying difficulties and potential future applications of NPs in treating angiogenesis-related diseases and antiangiogenic therapies are discussed.

The Use of Polymer Blends in the Treatment of Ocular Diseases

The eye is an organ with limited drug access due to its anatomical and physiological barriers, and the usual forms of ocular administration are limited in terms of drug penetration, residence time, and bioavailability, as well as low patient compliance. Hence, therapeutic innovations in new drug delivery systems (DDS) have been widely explored since they show numerous advantages over conventional methods, besides delivering the content to the eye without interfering with its normal functioning. Polymers are usually used in DDS and many of them are applicable to ophthalmic use, especially biodegradable ones. Even so, it can be a hard task to find a singular polymer with all the desirable properties to deliver the best performance, and combining two or more polymers in a blend has proven to be more convenient, efficient, and cost-effective. This review was carried out to assess the use of polymer blends as DDS. The search conducted in the databases of Pubmed and Scopus for specific terms revealed that although the physical combination of polymers is largely applied, the term polymer blend still has low compliance.

Therapeutic approaches targeting molecular signaling pathways common to diabetes, lung diseases and cancer

Diabetes mellitus (DM), is the most common metabolic disease and is characterized by sustained hyperglycemia. Accumulating evidences supports a strong association between DM and numerous lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), fibrosis, and lung cancer (LC). The global incidence of DM-associated lung disorders is rising and several ongoing studies, including clinical trials, aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking DM with lung disorders, in particular LC. Several potential mechanisms, including hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, glycation, inflammation, and hypoxia, are cited as plausible links between DM and LC. In addition, studies also propose a connection between the use of anti-diabetic medications and reduction in the incidence of LC. However, the exact cause for DM associated lung diseases especially LC is not clear and is an area under intense investigation. Herein, we review the biological links reported between DM and lung disorders with an emphasis on LC. Furthermore, we report common signaling pathways (eg: TGF-β, IL-6, HIF-1, PDGF) and miRNAs that are dysregulated in DM and LC and serve as molecular targets for therapy. Finally, we propose a nanomedicine based approach for delivering therapeutics (eg: IL-24 plasmid DNA, HuR siRNA) to disrupt signaling pathways common to DM and LC and thus potentially treat DM-associated LC. Finally, we conclude that the effective modulation of commonly regulated signaling pathways would help design novel therapeutic protocols for treating DM patients diagnosed with LC.

Nano-engineered tools in the diagnosis, therapeutics, prevention, and mitigation of SARS-CoV-2

The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has forever altered mankind resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. This respiratory virus further manifests into vital organ damage, resulting in severe post COVID-19 complications. Nanotechnology has been moonlighting in the scientific community to combat several severe diseases. This review highlights the triune of the nano-toolbox in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, prevention, and mitigation of SARS-CoV-2. Nanogold test kits have already been on the frontline of rapid detection. Breath tests, magnetic nanoparticle-based nucleic acid detectors, and the use of Raman Spectroscopy present myriads of possibilities in developing point of care biosensors, which will ensure sensitive, affordable, and accessiblemass surveillance. Most of the therapeutics are trying to focus on blocking the viral entry into the cell and fighting with cytokine storm, using nano-enabled drug delivery platforms. Nanobodies and mRNA nanotechnology with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as vaccines against S and N protein have regained importance. All the vaccines coming with promising phase 3 clinical trials have used nano-delivery systems for delivery of vaccine-cargo, which are currently administered widely in many countries. The use of chemically diverse metal, carbon and polymeric nanoparticles, nanocages and nanobubbles demonstrate opportunities to develop anti-viral nanomedicine. In order to prevent and mitigate the viral spread, high-performance charged nanofiber filters, spray coating of nanomaterials on surfaces, novel materials for PPE kits and facemasks have been developed that accomplish over 90% capture of airborne SARS-CoV-2. Nano polymer-based disinfectants are being tested to make smart-transport for human activities. Despite the promises of this toolbox, challenges in terms of reproducibility, specificity, efficacy and emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants are yet to overcome.

Application of Nanomaterials in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Ophthalmology Diseases

Eye diseases often lead to impaired vision and seriously affect the daily life of patients. Local administration of ophthalmic drugs is one of the most important approaches for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases. However, due to the special biochemical environment of the ocular tissue and the existence of many barriers, the bioavailability of conventional ophthalmic preparations in the eye is very low. Nanomaterials can be utilized as carriers of drugs, which can improve the absorption, distribution, metabolism and bioavailability of drugs in eyes. Nanomaterials have also the advantages of small size, simple preparation, good degradability, strong targeting, and little stimulation to biological tissues, providing an innovative and practical method for the drug delivery of ophthalmic diseases. In addition, nanomaterials can be used as an auxiliary means for early diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases by improving the specificity and accuracy of detection methods. Nanomaterials help clinicians and researchers delve deeper into the physiology and pathology of the eye at the nanoscale. We summarize the application of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases in this review.

The utility and risks of therapeutic nanotechnology in the retina

The clinical application of nanotechnology in medicine is promising for therapeutic, diagnostic, and surgical improvements in the near future. Nanotechnologies in nano-ophthalmology are in the early stages of application in clinical contexts, including ocular drug and gene delivery systems addressing eye disorders, particularly retinopathies. Retinal diseases are challenging to treat as current interventions, such as intravitreal injections, are limited by their invasive nature. This review examines nanotechnological approaches to retinal diseases in a clinical context. Nanotechnology has the potential to transform pharmacological and surgical interventions by overcoming limitations posed by the protective anatomical and physiological barriers that limit access to the retina. Preclinical research in the application of nanoparticles in diagnostics indicates that nanoparticles can enhance existing diagnostic and screening tools to detect diseases earlier and more easily and improve disease progression monitoring precision.

Recent advances of nanomedicine-based strategies in diabetes and complications management: Diagnostics, monitoring, and therapeutics

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of chronic hyperglycemia driven by insulin deficiency or resistance, imposing a significant global burden affecting 463 million people worldwide in 2019. This review has comprehensively summarized the application of nanomedicine with accurate, patient-friendly, real-time properties in the field of diabetes diagnosis and monitoring, and emphatically discussed the unique potential of various nanomedicine carriers (e.g., polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, microparticles, microneedles, etc.) in the management of diabetes and complications. Novel delivery systems have been developed with improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, excellent drug biodistribution, biocompatibility, and therapeutic efficacy, long-term action safety, as well as the improved production methods. Furthermore, the effective nanomedicine for the treatment of several major diabetic complications with significantly improved life qualities of diabetic patients were discussed in detail. Going through the literature review, several critical issues of the nanomedicine-based strategies applications need to be addressed such as stabilities and long-term safety effects in vivo, the deficiency of standard for formulation administration, feasibility of scale-up, etc. Overall, the review provides an insight into the design, advantages and limitations of novel nanomedicine application in the diagnostics, monitoring, and therapeutics of DM.

Recent advances in intraocular and novel drug delivery systems for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with damage to the retinal blood vessels that lead eventually to vision loss. The existing treatments of DR are invasive, expensive, and cumbersome. To overcome challenges associated with existing therapies, various intraocular sustained release and novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) have been explored.Areas covered: The review discusses recently developed intraocular devices for sustained release of drugs as well as novel noninvasive drug delivery systems that have met a varying degree of success in local delivery of drugs to retinal circulation.Expert opinion: The intraocular devices have got very good success in providing sustained release of drugs in patients. The development of NDDS and their application through the ocular route has certainly provided an edge to treat DR over existing therapies such as anti-VEGF administration but their success rate is quite low. Moreover, most of them have proved to be effective only in animal models. In addition, the extent of targeting the drug to the retina still remains variable and unpredictable. The toxicity aspect of the NDDS has generally been neglected. In order to have successful commercialization of nanotechnology-based innovations well-designed clinical research studies need to be conducted to evaluate their clinical superiority over that of the existing formulations.

How can nanotechnology help to combat COVID-19? Opportunities and urgent need

Incidents of viral outbreaks have increased at an alarming rate over the past decades. The most recent human coronavirus known as COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has already spread around the world and shown R0 values from 2.2 to 2.68. However, the ratio between mortality and number of infections seems to be lower in this case in comparison to other human coronaviruses (such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)). These outbreaks have tested the limits of healthcare systems and have posed serious questions about management using conventional therapies and diagnostic tools. In this regard, the use of nanotechnology offers new opportunities for the development of novel strategies in terms of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and other viral infections. In this review, we discuss the use of nanotechnology for COVID-19 virus management by the development of nano-based materials, such as disinfectants, personal protective equipment, diagnostic systems and nanocarrier systems, for treatments and vaccine development, as well as the challenges and drawbacks that need addressing.