Advanced Nanomaterials for Preparedness Against (Re‐)Emerging Viral Diseases

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2021-11, Vol.33 (47), p.e2005927-n/a
• Main Authors: Kim, Eunjung, Lim, Eun‐Kyung, Park, Geunseon, Park, Chaewon, Lim, Jong‐Woo, Lee, Hyo, Na, Woonsung, Yeom, Minjoo, Kim, Jinyoung, Song, Daesub, Haam, Seungjoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antiviral therapeutics; COVID-19; diagnostic tools; emerging viral diseases; Infectious diseases; Materials science; Nanomaterials; nanovaccines; Pandemics; Pathogens; Public health; R&D; Research & development; Viral diseases
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005927

While the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) accounts for the current global pandemic, the emergence of other unknown pathogens, named “Disease X,” remains a serious concern in the future. Emerging or re‐emerging pathogens continue to pose significant challenges to global public health. In response, the scientific community has been urged to create advanced platform technologies to meet the ever‐increasing needs presented by these devastating diseases with pandemic potential. This review aims to bring new insights to allow for the application of advanced nanomaterials in future diagnostics, vaccines, and antiviral therapies, thereby addressing the challenges associated with the current preparedness strategies in clinical settings against viruses. The application of nanomaterials has advanced medicine and provided cutting‐edge solutions for unmet needs. Herein, an overview of the currently available nanotechnologies is presented, highlighting the significant features that enable them to control infectious diseases, and identifying the challenges that remain to be addressed for the commercial production of nano‐based products is presented. Finally, to conclude, the development of a nanomaterial‐based system using a “One Health” approach is suggested. This strategy would require a transdisciplinary collaboration and communication between all stakeholders throughout the entire process spanning across research and development, as well as the preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing phases. Nanomaterials have a significant potential for creating sophisticated complexes, mimicking the natural size and structures of viruses without the complications of toxicity. New approaches for applying advanced nanomaterial‐based platform technologies to future diagnostics, vaccines, and antiviral treatments against emerging infectious diseases are reviewed. The unmet needs and future directions of current nanomaterial‐based tools in the clinical settings are also addressed.