Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infections: towards quantum dots based management approaches

Abstract

Developing numerous nanotechnological designed tools to monitor the existence of SARS-CoV-2, and modifying its interactions address the global needs for efficient remedies required for the management of COVID-19. Herein, through a multidisciplinary outlook encompassing different fields such as the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2, analysis of symptoms, and statistics of neurological complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in the central and peripheral nervous systems have been testified. The anosmia (51.1%) and ageusia (45.5%) are reported the most frequent neurological manifestation. Cerebrovascular disease and encephalopathy were mainly related to severe clinical cases. In addition, we focus especially on the various concerned physiological routes, including BBB dysfunction, which transpired due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, direct and indirect effects of the virus on the brain, and also, the plausible mechanisms of viral entry to the nerve system. We also outline the characterisation, and the ongoing pharmaceutical applications of quantum dots as smart nanocarriers crossing the blood-brain barrier and their importance in neurological diseases, mainly SARS-CoV-2 related manifestations Moreover, the market status, six clinical trials recruiting quantum dots, and the challenges limiting the clinical application of QDs are highlighted.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Neurological disorders
• blood brain barrier
• CNS entry
• COVID-19
• nanomedicine
• nanoparticles

Acknowledgments

This paper was not funded by any organization.

Author’s contributions

F.A: Data collection and writing manuscript; F.M; Conceptualisation and manuscript edition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

There is no financial support to declare.

Data availability statement

Data sharing does not apply to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.