Surfactant-based prophylaxis and therapy against COVID-19: A possibility

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Public Health

Background:

• Hand hygiene with soap and water is crucial for preventing COVID-19 transmission.
• Soaps and detergents disrupt viruses by damaging spike proteins or via micelle entrapment.
• Surfactants are the functional class of molecules in soaps, widely used as pharmaceutical excipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the underutilized potential of surfactants for COVID-19 prophylaxis and therapy.
• To investigate why surfactants, despite proven antiviral properties, have not been considered for COVID-19 treatment.
• To highlight the potential of surfactant-based strategies for future pandemic preparedness.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing the known antiviral mechanisms of surfactants.
• Examining the established use of lung surfactants in respiratory viral infections.
• Postulating the application of surfactants for prophylaxis and therapy against SARS-CoV-2.

Main Results:

• Surfactants possess inherent antiviral properties relevant to viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
• Lung surfactants have demonstrated efficacy in managing respiratory viral infections.
• The potential for surfactant-based interventions against COVID-19 remains largely unexplored.

Conclusions:

• Surfactant-based prophylaxis and therapy represent a promising, yet under-investigated, approach against COVID-19.
• Further research into surfactant applications could lead to novel strategies for combating viral pandemics.
• The established efficacy of surfactants in other contexts warrants their consideration for novel antiviral therapies.