Table 3.

Polymer-based nanoformulation

Diseases	Antiviral drug	Type of nanodelivery system	Lipid/polymer used as carrier	Key findings	Ref
HIV	Efavirenz, darunavir, indinavir	Polymeric micelles	Poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide) block copolymer	Protects against degradation Enhances solubility Improves palatability for pediatric formulations	[77]
HSV	Acyclovir	Polymeric micelles	Acyclovir–polycaprolactone (core)-methoxy PEG (shell) copolymer	Nontoxic Efficient drug delivery	[78]
Hepatitis B	Lamivudine stearate (prodrug)	Polymeric micelles	Stearic acid–grafted chitosan oligosaccharide polymeric micelles	High drug loading, high cellular uptake in HBV-transfected human hepatoblastoma cells, more conspicuous inhibition of antigen expression and DNA replication	[79]
HIV	Nevirapine	Polymeric nanoparticles	Cellulose acetate butyrate	Increased therapeutic efficacy Decreased biocompatibility	[80]
HIV	Efavirenz (transferrin receptor-binding peptide)	Polymeric nanoparticles	PLGA	Increased stability to interact with BBB Increased permeability	[81]
HIV	Nevirapine	Polymeric nanoparticles	PLGA nanoparticles conjugated with transferrin	Increased uptake in human brain microvascular endothelial cells	[82]
HIV	Zidovudine	Polymeric nanoparticles	CRM 197–grafted zidovudine–loaded polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles	Increased uptake in human brain microvascular endothelial cells	[83]
HIV	Lamivudine	Polymeric nanoparticles	Chitosan cross-linked with glutaraldehyde nanoparticles	Brain targeting	[84]
HIV	Combination antiretroviral drugs; efavirenz, lopinavir, ritonavir	Polymeric nanoparticles	Poly-(dl-lactide-co-glycolic acid), i.e., PLGA	> 79% drug entrapment efficiency for each of the three drugs, efficient uptake in nonimmune and immune cells, higher nuclear, cytoskeleton and membrane drug levels in HIV-1–infected H9 monocytic cells, inhibition of HIV infection and transduction with IC50 < 31 nM for each of the three drugs in TZM b1 cells	[85]
Herpes infection	Lamivudine	Polymeric nanoparticles	PLGA	Enhanced AUC High targeting	[86]
HIV	Elvitegravir	Polymeric nanoparticles	PLGA	Enhanced intracellular uptake	[87]
VZV, HZV, HSV	Acyclovir	Mucoadhesive dendrimer	Cyanoacrylates, polyacrylic acid, Na carboxymethylcellulose, hyaluronic acid, hydroxypropylcellulose, polycarbophil, chitosan, and gellan	Improved mucoadhesion	[88]
Chicken pox, HZV, HSV	Acyclovir	Nanoemulsion	Eudragit RLPO	Low dose Minimizes side effects Improves oral bioavailability	[89]
VZV, HZV, HSV	Acyclovir	Nanoemulsion	Polylactic co-glycolic acid	Prolonged circulation time Increased biodistribution and bioavailability	[89]
HIV	Nelfinavir mesylate, darunavir, atazanavir	Nanoemulsions	Poly-vinylpyrrolidone, HPMC, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and methyl cellulose	Maximizes therapeutic efficacy Enhances solubility High drug-loading capacity	[90]
HIV	Efavirenz, saquinavir	Cyclodextrins-complexes	β-Cyclodextrin polymers	Enhances solubility Enhances physicochemical properties	[91]
VZV, HZV, HSV	Acyclovir	Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles	Poly(lactide-co-glycolide), poly(anhydrides), polyethylenimine, chitosan, and polylysine	Improved mucoadhesion	[92]
HIV	Nevirapine	Nanocrystals	Cellulose derivatives, PVA, PVP, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, pluronics, poloxamers, copolymers—polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene	Improved bioavailability Prolonged and increased availability of drug; less excretion of the drug Facilitates phagocytosis and targets the spleen	[93]
HIV	Efavirenz	Nanodispersion	PVP, PVA, HPMC, PEG	Enhanced solubility Prolonged availability of drug	[72]
HSV	Acyclovir	Nanosponges	Hyper cross-linked polystyrenes, methyl β-cyclodextrin, alkyloxycarbonyl cyclodextrins, 2-hydroxy, propyl β-cyclodextrins Copolymers like PVA, poly(valerolactone allylvalerolactone), poly(valerolactone-allylvalerolactoneoxepanedione), ethyl cellulose	Increased solubility, stability, and formulation flexibility Modified release of drug	[94]
HSV	Acyclovir	Nanosponges	Cyclodextrins, ethylcellulose, PVA, poly(valero lactone allylvalero lactone), poly(valerolactone-allylvalerolactoneoxepanedione)		[95]
HIV	Zidovudine	Amide-functionalized alginate nanoparticles	Sodium alginate	Efficient cellular uptake	[96]