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August 2020 Issue Executive Publishers Megha Agrawal, PhD Shyamasri Biswas, PhD (Biotechnology) (Biotechnology) Publisher and Editor Publisher and Editor Expertise: Expertise: Neuroscience, Stroke, Pharmacology, Structural Biology, Enzyme Technology, Toxicology, Microbiology and and Protein Crystallography Molecular Biology Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Editorial, Sales & Circulation Office 1330 NW 6th Street Suite A2, Gainesville FL-32601, USA Phone: 386-518-9411 Email: [email protected] www.biotechkiosk.com ISSN 2689-0852 One stop shop for all things biotech From the Publisher’s Desk Welcome to Biotechnology Kiosk! The current issue of BK is now online for our report on research breakthroughs from readers with the regular features that include around the world. research articles by international experts and We look forward to receiving your feedback. biotechnology advances around the world. We do hope that you will enjoy reading this The regular industry and pharma news will issue of Biotechnology Kiosk. Please do write appear in the next issue of BK. to us with your comments. Your suggestions This issue contains research articles in the are always appreciated. field of COVID-19 along with news and views Dr. Megha Agrawal and Dr. Shyamasri on the current cutting-edge topics that Biswas include latest research breakthroughs in artificial organs and enzyme technology that Co Editors-in-Chief, Biotechnology Kiosk Biotechnology Kiosk, 2, 8 (2020) ISSN 2689-0852 Page 1 Contents Volume 2, Issue 8 August 2020 Research Article…...…….………………………………………….….……….……………….........4 Options for COVID-19 therapeutics: Aerosolized inhalation antibody-conjugated Nano particles. https://doi.org/10.37756/bk.20.2.8.1 Mini Review………………….………………….……………….…...…………………...................18 Effective countermeasure for Filovirus infections: focusing monoclonal antibodies as passive prophylaxis shield against Ebola Virus disease. https://doi.org/10.37756/bk.20.2.8.2 BIOTECH R&D AND INNOVATION NEWS…………………………...……….……………….…36 Editor’s Picks: Biotechnology Advances around the World Enzyme Technology ……………………………………………….………………...……………..37 Artificial Organs.……………………………………………………………….….......……...……..38 Biotechnology Kiosk, 2, 8 (2020) ISSN 2689-0852 Page 2 https://www.cardiometabolichealth.org/ Biotechnology Kiosk, 2 , 8 (2020) ISSN 2689 - 0852 https://www.cardiometabolichealth.org/ Page 3 Research Article Options for COVID-19 therapeutics: Aerosolized inhalation antibody- conjugated Nanoparticles *Humphrey Simukokoa PhD, Brian Mujunib MSc aUniversity of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals (ACEIDHA). bAfrica Center of Excellence in Materials, Product Development & Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO ACE), P.O Box 7062, College of Engineering Art and Technology, Makerere University. Abbreviated Names: Simukoko H., Mujuni, B. * Address correspondence to: Dr. Humphrey Simukoko, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. Postal code: 10101 Tel/Fax: +260-211-293727 Mobile: +260-975732243 Email: [email protected] Article type: Research Article Received: July 11, 2020 Revised: July 20, 2020 Accepted: August 4, 2020 Citation: Simukoko H. and Mujuni, B.; Options for covid-19 therapeutics: aerosolized inhalation antibody- conjugated nanoparticles, Biotechnology Kiosk, Vol 2, Issue 8, PP: 4-16 (2020); DOI: https://doi.org/10.37756/bk.20.2.8.1 Biotechnology Kiosk, 2, 8 (2020) ISSN 2689-0852 Page 4 Abstract The world is currently faced with a very serious crisis to deal with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19) pandemic which started in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since spread throughout the world, wreaking havoc in many countries. Several efforts are being made to control the spread of the disease around the world and to find a cure or vaccine. As researchers frantically endeavor to identify remedies for covid- 19, there is the need to identify therapies that offer the quickest, safest actions and remedies that are relatively cheap. We propose the use of aerosolized inhalation antibody conjugated nanoparticles for the treatment of covid-19. It is hypothesized in this proposal that the conjugation of nanoparticles with antibodies and delivering the antibody-nanoparticle conjugate as an aerosol via the respiratory tract would provide the quickest and possibly more efficient and relatively cheap remedy against covid-19. The advantage of the inhalation route for delivering antibody conjugated nanoparticles is that since the medication is delivered directly to the affected site, higher doses will be delivered to the site with reduced systemic toxicity and reduced adverse effects on gaseous exchange. Our hypothesis is based on the current knowledge and observations in the areas of monoclonal antibody technology, advances in nanotechnology and Nano medicine as well as advances in inhalation therapeutics. Key Words: Pandemic, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, Respiratory Epithelium, Virus, Nano medicine. *E-Mail: [email protected] To cite this article: Simukoko H. and Mujuni, B.; Options for covid-19 therapeutics: aerosolized inhalation antibody-conjugated nanoparticles, Biotechnology Kiosk, Vol 2, Issue 8, PP: 4-16 (2020); DOI: https://doi.org/10.37756/bk.20.2.8.1 Biotechnology Kiosk, 2, 8 (2020) ISSN 2689-0852 Page 5 Introduction the other hand, systemically delivered drugs The World Health Organization (WHO) was may be distributed widely thereby informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia indiscriminately affecting other untargeted of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, tissues which may result in unwarranted Hubei Province of China on 31 December injury. Third, direct delivery of the drug to the 2019. Later the causative agent of the lungs may permit reduction in the total pneumonia was identified by Chinese medication dose and thus potentially authorities to be the SARS-CoV-2 and the lowering cost. disease was named coronavirus disease As the world grapples with the COVID- 2019 (COVID-19) by WHO on 11 February 19 pandemic, it is prudent upon the scientific 2020. Ever since its identification and community to consider diligently all potential characterization, the disease has been plausible solutions that may offer even a spreading world-wide causing high glimmer of hope now or in the future. mortalities and morbidities. A group of Humankind is at the cross-roads for survival experts Under the WHO’s coordination, with and therefore concerted efforts are extremely diverse backgrounds has been tasked to necessary to combat the COVID-19 work towards the development of vaccines pandemic. against COVID-19. Other scientists around Currently there is already an the world are equally making frantic efforts to accumulation of knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 develop vaccines and therapeutics against and other respiratory diseases. In addition, a COVID-19 [1]. number of intervention points for the possible Efficient and targeted delivery of the treatment of Covid-19 have been suggested envisaged SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics to their and some possible candidates are already sites of action will be cardinal in the treatment being tested [2, 3]. Most of the potential of covid-19. We therefore propose the use of therapeutic candidates such as aerosolized antibody conjugated hydroxylchloroquine, Ivermectin, remdesivir, nanoparticles via direct inhalation into the interferon β1a and a few others are respiratory system as one of the potential repurposed remedies that were/are used for methods for the treatment of covid-19. Using the treatment of other conditions. These aerosolized antibody conjugated potential remedies currently being nanoparticles via direct inhalation has investigated for the possible treatment of several advantages when compared to other SARS-CoV-2 are administered orally, potential remedies against covid-19. First, intramuscularly (IM) or intravenously (IV) with respiratory tract inhalation delivers a few exceptions such as interferon β1a medication directly to the site, thus enabling (SNG001) that is administered via the higher doses locally with less systemic respiratory route. Moreover, the modes of toxicity. Second, inhaled drugs are likely to action of most of these adapted remedies are improve or at least have fewer adverse largely unknown. Based on the current effects on gaseous exchange compared with understanding of the structure of the SARS- other systemic routes of administration. On CoV-2 including its cellular binding and Biotechnology Kiosk, 2, 8 (2020) ISSN 2689-0852 Page 6 cellular entry strategies, a number of the respiratory epithelium can be curtailed by plausible points for therapeutic interventions the nanoparticle-antibody conjugates that have been suggested. Cardinal amongst the would competitively bind to the ACE2 therapies being suggested include camostat receptors. In this case, the antibody- mesilate, a serine protease inhibitor [3, 4]. In nanoparticle conjugate will have dual action. addition, other small molecule drug On one hand, the nanoparticles will compete compounds that might warrant further study with the SARS-C0V-2 for binding to the ACE2 have been identified that can limit viral receptors while on the other hand the recognition of host cells and/or disrupt host- antibody moieties will bind and immobilize virus interactions [5, 6]. Efficient
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