Advances of nanomaterials-based strategies for fighting against COVID-19

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 100 million people globally due to its high infectivity. After decades of efforts on the studies of nanomaterials, researchers have applied nanomaterials-based strategies to combat the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). First, nanomaterials facilitate the development of easy, fast, and low-cost diagnostic assays to detect SARS-CoV-2 and related biomarkers. Second, nanomaterials enable the efficient delivery of viral antigens to antigen-presenting cells or serve as adjuvants in the host, leading to vaccine development at an unprecedented pace. Lastly, nanomaterials-based treatments may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduce inflammation. Overall, nanomaterials have played important roles in controlling this COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we provide a brief overview of the representative examples of nanomaterials-based diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics in the fight against COVID-19.