SARS-COV-2 – THE LATEST GLOBAL THREAT AND THE PROSPECT OF COVID-19 THERAPY WITH THE USE OF CHITOSAN

Epidemics of infectious diseases have always been a threat to humanity and have contributed to increased mortality in the affected areas. This also applies to a new species of coronavirus identified in 2019, SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite preventive measures implemented all over the world to minimise the spread of the pathogen as well as the development of vaccines, which have been approved for emergency use, the situation is still worrying. Moreover, the problem is exacerbated by the lack of targeted treatments for COVID-19 patients. One possible solution is the using preparations based on natural raw materials, including chitosan. This biopolymer is of great interest due to a number of unique biological properties, among which its antiviral effect is a key feature. Hence, this paper presents the application possibilities of chitosan-based solutions in the prevention and treatment of viral diseases, with particular emphasis on COVID-19.