May 22 Can Nanotechnology and Materials Science Help the Fight Against SARS-CoV-2?
Maria Chiara Sportelli, Margherita Izzi, Ekaterina A. Kukushkina, Syed Imdadul Hossain, Rosaria Anna Picca, Nicoletta Ditaranto and Nicola Cioffi
ABSTRACT
Since 2004, we have developed nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties, so-called nanoantimicrobials. When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged, we began investigating new and challenging routes for nanoantivirals. The two fields have some important points in common. We would like to share with readers our vision on the role that (nano) materials can play in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As researchers who work specifically on surfaces and nanomaterials, in this paper we highlight the importance of nanomaterials and technological solutions in various aspects of the fight against the virus.
While it is understandable that large resources are being devoted to treatment and diagnosis, more efforts could be devoted to limiting the spread of the virus.
Increasing the efficiency of personal protective equipment by developing synergies with antiviral coatings are just two of the cases discussed.
This is not the first nor the last pandemic: our nanomaterial resources can offer several technological solutions to the challenge of future global health emergencies. Reader comments and suggestions are very encouraging.