Immunomodulatory nanosystems: An emerging strategy to combat viral infections

The viral infection spreads with the assistance of a host. Traditional antiviral therapies cannot provide long-term immunity against emerging and drug-resistant viral infections. Immunotherapy has evolved as an efficient approach for disease prevention and treatment, which include cancer, infections, inflammatory, and immune disorders. Immunomodulatory nanosystems can dramatically enhance therapeutic outcomes by combating many therapeutic challenges, such as poor immune stimulation and off-target adverse effects. Recently, immunomodulatory nanosystems have emerged as a potent antiviral strategy to intercept viral infections effectively. This review introduces major viral infections with their primary symptoms, route of transmission & targeted organ, and different stages of the viral life cycle with respective traditional blockers. The IMNs have an exceptional capacity for precisely modulating the immune system for therapeutic applications. The nano sized immunomodulatory systems permit the immune cells to interact with infectious agents enhancing lymphatic drainage and endocytosis by the over-reactive immune cells in the infected areas. Immune cells that can be modulated upon viral infection via various immunomodulatory nanosystems have been discussed. Advancement in theranostics can yield an accurate diagnosis, adequate treatment, and real-time screening of viral infections. Nanosystem-based drug delivery can continue to thrive in diagnosing, treating, and preventing viral infections. The curative medicine for remerging and drug-resistant viruses remains challenging, though certain systems have expanded our perception and initiated a new research domain in antiviral treatments.