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Chitin and chitosan as tools to combat COVID-19: A triple approach

Mehrnoush Safarzadeh1, Sahar Sadeghi2, Mahdieh Azizi3

  • 1Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|April 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Chitin and chitosan show promise as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. This review explores their potential to combat the pandemic, given the lack of approved treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, highlights the urgent need for effective treatments.
  • Current therapeutic options for COVID-19 are limited, necessitating exploration of novel antiviral strategies.
  • Chitin and chitosan are natural biopolymers with demonstrated antiviral properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the immunological aspects of COVID-19.
  • To discuss existing antiviral therapies and their limitations.
  • To evaluate the potential of chitin and chitosan as therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of viral pandemics, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 immunology, and antiviral therapies.
  • Analysis of existing research on chitin and chitosan's antiviral activities.
  • Exploration of chitin and chitosan's potential mechanisms of action against SARS-CoV-2.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 presents significant global health challenges.
  • Existing antiviral therapies for COVID-19 have notable limitations.
  • Chitin and chitosan exhibit promising broad-spectrum antiviral activities in preliminary studies.

Conclusions:

  • Chitin and chitosan represent a potential novel therapeutic avenue for managing SARS-CoV-2 infections.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the efficacy and safety of chitin and chitosan for COVID-19 treatment.
  • The unique properties of chitin and chitosan may offer a valuable addition to the antiviral armamentarium.
Keywords:
COVID-19ChitinChitosanSARS-CoV-2

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