Viral infection mitigations using advanced nanomaterials and tools: lessons from SARS-CoV-2 for future prospective interventions

Abstract

The emergence of recent corona virus SARS-CoV-2-led pandemic infection has generated the incessant demand for the evaluation and development of suitable advanced materials for controlling this and future unforeseen viral infections. The current nanoscience-based materials are being evaluated for possible appliances at different stages encompassing, fields locations for control, identification of virus spread, diagnosis of infection and potential therapeutic interventions by drug development. Assorted materials like carbon nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic framework (COF) materials, 2D materials, optical tweezers, artificial cells, etc. have been extensively investigated for the diagnosis, protection, and as therapeutics for viral infections. Herein, the existing materials and nanotechnological tools proposed or evaluated for controlling different viral infections and specifically, COVID-19 are deliberated. An insightful exploration of the advances in materials science, nanoscience and nanobiotechnology has been kept in core focus with perspective for controlling the similar type of infections in future.