Table 1.

Antiviral metal nanoparticles.

Virus	Family	Metal Nanoparticle Composition (size)	Mechanism of Action	References
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)	Retroviridae	PVP-coated silver nanoparticles (1–10 nm)	Interaction with gp120	[38,39,40]
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)	Herpesviridae	MES-coated silver and gold nanoparticles (4 nm)	Competition for the binding of the virus to the cell	[43,44]
Respiratory syncytial virus	Paramyxoviridae	PVP-coated silver nanoparticles (69 nm +/− 3 nm)	Interference with viral attachment	[42]
Monkeypox virus	Poxviridae	Silver nanoparticles and polysaccharide-coated Silver nanoparticles (10–80 nm)	Block of virus-host cell binding and penetration	[45]
Influenza virus	Orthomyxoviridae	Sialic-acid functionalized gold nanoparticles (14 nm)	Inhibition of virus binding to the plasma membrane	[46]
Tacaribe virus (TCRV)	Arenaviridae	Silver nanoparticles and polysaccharide-coated Silver nanoparticles (10 nm)	Inactivation of virus particles prior to entry	[47]
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)	Hepadnaviridae	Silver nanoparticles; (10–50 nm)	Interaction with double-stranded DNA and/or binding with viral particles	[41]