Viral Nanoparticles-Mediated Delivery of Therapeutic Cargo

Abstract

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology in recent years has opened new avenues of investigation for biomedical sciences. Viral nanoparticles (VNPs) are formulated from plant viruses, mammalian viruses, or bacteriophages. Based on their structure, viruses, and synthetic carriers have been utilized to design bio-inspired nanocarriers, which serve as building blocks for innovative therapeutic applications. Scientists can chemically or genetically engineer VNPs to encompass various properties, such as enhancing their functionalization with therapeutic molecules and imaging reagents, enabling targeted delivery to specific ligands. The implementation of these novel nanocarrier platforms can revolutionize treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and chronic illnesses. The primary goal of drug delivery systems is to localize cargo to the specific target site, increasing therapeutic benefits and minimizing off-target effects. This review critically evaluates the major virus species used as nanocarriers, their applications in therapeutics, and their advantages and disadvantages.