Toward the prevention of coronavirus infection: what role can polymers play?

X Jiang; Z Li; D J Young; M Liu; C Wu; Y-L Wu; X J Loh

doi:10.1016/j.mtadv.2021.100140

Toward the prevention of coronavirus infection: what role can polymers play?

Mater Today Adv. 2021 Jun:10:100140. doi: 10.1016/j.mtadv.2021.100140. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Authors

X Jiang¹, Z Li², D J Young³, M Liu¹, C Wu¹, Y-L Wu¹, X J Loh²

Affiliations

¹ Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
² Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A∗STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore.
³ College of Engineering, Information Technology and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory 0909, Australia.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 2 has caused a global public health crisis with high rates of infection and mortality. Treatment and prevention approaches include vaccine development, the design of small-molecule antiviral drugs, and macromolecular neutralizing antibodies. Polymers have been designed for effective virus inhibition and as antiviral drug delivery carriers. This review summarizes recent progress and provides a perspective on polymer-based approaches for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus infection. These polymer-based partners include polyanion/polycations, dendritic polymers, macromolecular prodrugs, and polymeric drug delivery systems that have the potential to significantly improve the efficacy of antiviral therapeutics.

Keywords: Antiviral; Biomaterials; Drug delivery; Polyanion; Polycation.

Publication types

Review