BEZMIALEM SCIENCE, cilt.8, ss.117-125, 2020 (ESCI)
The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronaviruse-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome is packaged in a helical nucleocapsid surrounded by a lipid bilayer. The virus envelope contains at least three viral proteins called spike protein (S), membrane protein (M) and envelope protein (E). While M and E form the structure of the virus, S protein is the leading agent of the entry of viruses into the host. Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) has been identified as a functional receptor for coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Viral fusion is the main step in the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is thought that drugs that prevent spike protein and ACE-2 fusion, drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin aldesterone system, and a high dose ACE-2 can act on this fusion mechanism and take part in COVID-19 treatment. In this context, especially nano-sized liposomal carriers attract attention due to their biocompatibility and cell-like structures in the treatment of infectious diseases. There are studies in which liposomes are also used as a secondary therapeutic to support traditional anti-infective drugs. In this review, therapeutic approaches that may reduce and treat the severity of the disease by preventing ACE-2 mediated entry of viruses are discussed.