Nanoparticles: A Promising Treatment for Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Infections

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a prevalent pathogen that causes various outcomes from oral and facial lesions to fatal encephalitis and herpetic keratitis. Acyclovir (ACV) is a current treatment option for HSV-1 infection. However, considering the emergence of ACV-resistant HSV-1 and the detrimental side effects of prolonged administration of ACV such as acute kidney injury, the development of novel antiviral therapeutic agents and new drug delivery systems appear indispensable. With the advent of nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted great attention as antimicrobial agents and drug carriers because of their unique physical and chemical properties. This review focused on the antiviral activity of NPs against HSV-1 infection and their application in the delivery of ACV.