Recent advances in nanotechnology-based COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutic antibodies

Nanoscale. 2022 Jan 27;14(4):1054-1074. doi: 10.1039/d1nr03831a.

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused a global pandemic and millions of deaths. It is imperative to develop effective countermeasures against the causative viral agent, SARS-CoV-2 and its many variants. Vaccines and therapeutic antibodies are the most effective approaches for preventing and treating COVID-19, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells through the activities of the virus-surface spike (S) protein. Accordingly, the S protein is a prime target for vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. Dealing with particles with dimensions on the scale of nanometers, nanotechnology has emerged as a critical tool for rapidly designing and developing safe, effective, and urgently needed vaccines and therapeutics to control the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, nanotechnology was key to the fast-track approval of two mRNA vaccines for their wide use in human populations. In this review article, we first explore the roles of nanotechnology in battling COVID-19, including protein nanoparticles (for presentation of protein vaccines), lipid nanoparticles (for formulation with mRNAs), and nanobodies (as unique therapeutic antibodies). We then summarize the currently available COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics based on nanotechnology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / therapeutic use*
  • COVID-19 Vaccines*
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • COVID-19* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liposomes
  • Nanoparticles
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pandemics
  • mRNA Vaccines

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Lipid Nanoparticles
  • Liposomes
  • mRNA Vaccines