Nanomedicine for COVID-19: Potential of Copper Nanoparticles

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled a global demand to establish novel diagnostic and treatment options, apart from the search for a vaccine. This, coupled with the need to mitigate the spread of infections, called for large-scale strategies, including alternative anti-viral methods, together with classical disinfection and prevention protocols. One such approach exists in the form of the essential micronutrient, copper. Copper surfaces have been observed to exhibit viral survival of fewer than 4 hours, compared to cardboard, stainless steel, and plastic with an average survival time of 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours, respectively. Copper's natural ability to aid in the functioning of critical immune cells, including B cells, natural killer cells, T helper cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, make it a potential therapeutic agent against SARS-CoV-2, both internally and externally to the host. This anti-viral property can be enhanced by the generation of copper nanoparticles for use in nanomedicine. Copper nanoparticles can generate reactive oxygen species that interfere with viral operations and disrupt the viral membrane. This review paper focuses on copper nanoparticles for favorable therapeutic outcomes, together with its targeted interaction with cells expressing the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), for the treatment of COVID-19.