An update on vaccine status and the role of nanomedicine against SARS‐CoV‐2: A narrative review

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 novel coronavirus, is a highly communicable disease that gave rise to the ongoing pandemic. Despite prompt action across many laboratories in many countries, effective management of this disease is still out of reach. The focus of this review is to describe various vaccination approaches and nanomedicine‐based delivery systems against COVID‐19. Methods The articles included in this study were searched and added from different electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, and preprint databases. Results Mass immunization with vaccines is currently at the forefront of COVID‐19 infection control. Such vaccines are live attenuated vaccines, inactivated vaccines, nucleic acid‐based vaccines, protein subunit vaccines, viral‐vector vaccines, and virus‐like particle platforms. However, many promising avenues are currently being explored in laboratory and clinical settings, including treatment options, prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease. Soft nanoparticles like lipid nanoparticles (solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs), liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, and protein nanoparticles play an essential role in nanomedicine. Because of their unique and excellent properties, nanomedicines have potential applications in treating COVID‐19 disease. Conclusions This review work provides an overview of the therapeutic aspects of COVID‐19, including vaccination and the role of nanomedicines in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COVID‐19.

Keywords

• COVID‐19
• nanomedicine
• nanoparticle
• SARS‐CoV‐2
• vaccine