Volume 3 Number 1 2025
Engineering the Nanoscale: Transformative Roles of Nanomaterials in COVID-19 Diagnosis, Treatment, and Vaccine Development
Hossein Khani Meinagh1,2, Mansoureh Nazari V.3*
Nano Drug Sciences 3 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/nanotechnology.3110445
Submitted: 29 July 2025 Revised: 15 October 2025 Accepted: 20 October 2025 Published: 21 October 2025
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has highlighted the urgent need for innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies. Nanotechnology, with its ability to manipulate matter at the molecular scale, has emerged as a transformative approach in combating viral infections. This review explores how nanomaterials contribute to the design of antiviral drugs, vaccine platforms, and diagnostic tools specifically targeting COVID-19. Literature-based evidence was synthesized to evaluate current applications of nanoparticles and nanocrystals in antiviral drug delivery, their synthesis techniques, and their role in enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Studies demonstrate that nanocrystals improve drug solubility and bioavailability, while nanoparticle carriers—such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)—protect and deliver sensitive agents like mRNA, revolutionizing vaccine technology. The aerosolized nanocrystal formulation of remdesivir exemplifies how nanotechnology can convert conventional intravenous drugs into targeted pulmonary therapies, improving local efficacy and patient accessibility. Various classes of nanoparticles, including lipid-based, polymeric, metallic, and virus-like particles, offer distinctive advantages for precise, controlled, and safe delivery of therapeutics. Collectively, these advances underscore nanotechnology’s pivotal role in developing next-generation antiviral strategies. In conclusion, nanomedicine not only redefined the global response to COVID-19 but also established a durable scientific framework for addressing future pandemics through enhanced diagnostics, targeted therapies, and innovative vaccine designs.
Keywords: Nanoparticle, COVID-19, Nanomedicine, Drug delivery, Antiviral therapy
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