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Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles Against Viral Infections
Homa Boroumand1, Fereshteh Badie2, Samaneh Mazaheri3
1School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Abstract:
Viral infections, in addition to damaging host cells, can compromise the host immune system, leading to frequent relapse or long-term persistence. Viruses have the capacity to destroy the host cell while liberating their own RNA or DNA in order to replicate within additional host cells. The viral life cycle makes it challenging to develop anti-viral drugs. Nanotechnology-based approaches have been suggested to deal effectively with viral diseases, and overcome some limitations of anti-viral drugs. Nanotechnology has enabled scientists to overcome the challenges of solubility and toxicity of anti-viral drugs, and can enhance their selectivity towards viruses and virally infected cells, while preserving healthy host cells. Chitosan is a naturally occurring polymer that has been used to construct nanoparticles (NPs), which are biocompatible, biodegradable, less toxic, easy to prepare, and can function as effective drug delivery systems (DDSs). Furthermore, chitosan is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). Chitosan NPs have been used in drug delivery by the oral, ocular, pulmonary, nasal, mucosal, buccal, or vaginal routes. They have also been studied for gene delivery, vaccine delivery, and advanced cancer therapy. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that chitosan NPs could be used as new therapeutic tools against viral infections. In this review we summarize reports concerning the therapeutic potential of chitosan NPs against various viral infections.
Insights
Chitosan nanoparticles offer a promising nanotechnology approach to combat viral infections by improving drug delivery and reducing toxicity. These biocompatible nanoparticles show potential as novel therapeutic agents against various viral diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Virology
Background:
- Viral infections can damage host cells and compromise the immune system, leading to persistent or relapsing infections.
- The complex viral life cycle presents challenges for developing effective antiviral drugs.
- Nanotechnology offers solutions to overcome limitations of conventional antiviral drugs, such as poor solubility and toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic potential of chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) against various viral infections.
- To highlight how nanotechnology, specifically chitosan NPs, can address challenges in antiviral drug development.
- To summarize evidence supporting chitosan NPs as novel antiviral therapeutic tools.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on chitosan nanoparticles and their application in antiviral therapy.
- Analysis of studies investigating the properties of chitosan NPs, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and drug delivery capabilities.
- Synthesis of data regarding the efficacy of chitosan NPs against different viral infections.
Main Results:
- Chitosan NPs demonstrate biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity, making them suitable for drug delivery systems (DDSs).
- These nanoparticles can enhance the selectivity of antiviral drugs towards viruses and infected cells while sparing healthy cells.
- Chitosan NPs have shown potential in various drug delivery routes and applications, including gene and vaccine delivery.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan nanoparticles represent a promising platform for developing advanced antiviral therapies.
- Their favorable properties and demonstrated potential suggest they could be valuable tools against a range of viral infections.
- Further research into chitosan NPs could lead to more effective and safer treatments for viral diseases.
