Nanotechnology in Virology: Towards Next-Generation Antivirals

This Research Topic invites high-impact research that advances nanotechnology-enabled antiviral interventions across the pipeline from molecular design to clinical translation, encouraging the integration of structural virology, nanomedicine, and AI-driven design to produce antivirals that are effective, safe, and translatable. Persistent challenges highlighted by recent viral outbreaks, including COVID‑19, include poor solubility, limited targeting, immune overactivation, and weak mucosal protection.

As Antiviral modalities of interest for this topic we consider: Small‑molecule or traditional antiviral drugs delivered or reformulated in combination with nanoparticles. Nucleic‑acid‑based antivirals (e.g. siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR‑based approaches) using lipid or polymeric nanoparticles.

We welcome manuscripts encompassing experimental studies, engineering advances, and design work demonstrating improved delivery, targeting, potency, or safety of antiviral agents through nanotechnology. Translational case studies and early‑phase clinical reports showing how nanotechnology has enabled real‑world antiviral progress. Computational and structure‑guided design studies that yield experimentally validated nanoscale architectures for antiviral applications. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

-Viral capsids and nucleoprotein complexes as templates for nanocarrier design and antiviral response.

-In silico design of nanoscale quaternary structures and structure‑guided nanoparticle engineering (including cryo‑EM‑resolved quaternary structures).

-Non‑invasive, mucosa‑targeted nanoparticle therapies for respiratory, gastrointestinal, or other mucosal viral infections.

-Multimodal analysis of viral nucleoprotein capsids for therapeutic targeting.

-Nanoparticle‑based antivirals and targeted delivery mechanisms.

-Strategies to reduce toxicity and immune overactivation, and to minimise off‑target host effects, including lipid‑associated toxicities, unintended immune activation, and organ‑specific accumulation.

-Comparative performance of different nanoparticle platforms across viral infections, linking material properties to antiviral efficacy and safety;

-Studies outlining regulatory considerations, manufacturing challenges, and preclinical‑to‑clinical advancement of nanotechnology‑enabled antiviral therapies.

By emphasising clinic‑ready or near‑clinical nanotechnology antiviral strategies, this Research Topic aims to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation and to showcase nanoscale approaches that can meaningfully reshape antiviral therapy.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Nanotechnology, antiviral therapies, drug delivery systems, nanoparticle efficacy, targeted delivery mechanisms, nanocarriers, nucleic‑acid antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, virucidal nanoparticles, safety, off‑target effects, translational nanomedicine

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.