Metal and metal oxide-based antiviral nanoparticles: Properties, mechanisms of action, and applications

• Published in: Advances in colloid and interface science Vol. 306; p. 102726
• Main Authors: Alavi, Mehran, Kamarasu, Pragathi, McClements, David Julian, Moore, Matthew D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2022
• Subjects: Antiviral; Metal nanoparticles; Metal oxide nanoparticles; Nanocomposites; Viruses; Metal nanoparticles; Metal oxide nanoparticles; Antiviral; Viruses; Nanocomposites
• ISSN: 0001-8686; 1873-3727; 1873-3727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102726

Certain types of metal-based nanoparticles are effective antiviral agents when used in their original form (“bare”) or after their surfaces have been functionalized (“modified”), including those comprised of metals (e.g., silver) and metal oxides (e.g., zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or iron dioxide). These nanoparticles can be prepared with different sizes, morphologies, surface chemistries, and charges, which leads to different antiviral activities. They can be used as aqueous dispersions or incorporated into composite materials, such as coatings or packaging materials. In this review, we provide an overview of the design, preparation, and characterization of metal-based nanoparticles. We then discuss their potential mechanisms of action against various kinds of viruses. Finally, the applications of some of the most common metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are discussed, including those fabricated from silver, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. In general, the major antiviral mechanisms of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have been observed to be 1) attachment of nanoparticles to surface moieties of viral particles like spike glycoproteins, that disrupt viral attachment and uncoating in host cells; 2) generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that denature viral macromolecules such as nucleic acids, capsid proteins, and/or lipid envelopes; and 3) inactivation of viral glycoproteins by the disruption of the disulfide bonds of viral proteins. Several physicochemical properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles including size, shape, zeta potential, stability in physiological conditions, surface modification, and porosity can all impact the antiviral efficacy of the nanoparticles. Example steps of viral replication targeted by metal NPs (Copyright under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License [53]). [Display omitted] •Metal-based nanoparticles comprise diverse reagents with antiviral activity.•Metal nanoparticle antiviral activity can occur by multiple mechanisms or targets.•Nanoparticle properties (size, surface chemistries, charges, etc.) influence efficacy.•Nanoparticles in bare form and with various modifications exhibit antiviral activity.•Metal nanoparticles can be applied in aqueous dispersion or as composite materials.