Challenges and Future Prospects of Nanotechnology for Antiviral Drugs

Abstract

The emergence and re-emergence of pathogenic viruses during the last few decades are causing several pandemics. This has become a serious public health concern. The major causes could be resistance, latency, and toxicity of the virus. Also, there are other factors like improper diagnosis and immunosuppression caused by antivirals. Hence, the rapid development of antivirals following a conventional protocol of drug development is challenging. However, there is a ray of hope reflected from some alternative approaches such as gene inhibition by RNA interference (RNAi), regulation of gene expression by aptamers, ribozymes, novel drug delivery systems, in silico resources recent advances in nanomedicines. Nanotechnology-based strategies show pinkiepromise to the therapeutic management (diagnosis, treatment, and prevention) of life-threatening viral infections. The basis for the potential pharmaceutical use of nanoparticles includes their interactions with biological interfaces, their particle size, good electrical conductivity, and the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance effect. This review discusses the strategies, challenges, drawbacks, and prospects of nanotechnology for making effective and safe antiviral drugs.