Virus-inspired nanosystems for drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Viruses have evolved sophisticated mechanisms for efficient cellular infection.
• Drug delivery systems aim to mimic viral infection stages for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
• Nanocarriers face biological barriers including immune evasion, barrier penetration, cellular entry, and payload release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of drug delivery processes inspired by viral infection stages.
• To summarize the current understanding and design principles of virus-inspired nanosystems (VINs).
• To highlight the mechanisms VINs employ to overcome biological barriers in drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in virus-inspired nanosystems for drug delivery.
• Analysis of the design principles and novelty of various VINs.
• Categorization of VINs based on their strategies for overcoming biological barriers.

Main Results:

• Recent constructions of VINs are detailed, showcasing innovative designs.
• Mechanisms by which VINs achieve immune evasion, barrier penetration, cellular entry, and payload release are elucidated.
• VINs demonstrate significant potential in overcoming biological hurdles in drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• Virus-inspired nanosystems offer a promising platform for next-generation drug delivery.
• Understanding viral infection pathways provides valuable insights for designing effective nanocarriers.
• VINs hold significant potential for diverse therapeutic applications.