Fig. 1.

Polymeric approaches for the prevention or treatment of coronavirus. (i) Integrating functional polymers into personal protective equipment (PPE) can prevent the entrance of virus into the respiratory system. (ii) Cellular binding of viral particles at the alveoli can be inhibited using polyanion and polycation against viral S protein or angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. (iii) Polymers could also be used to deliver antivirus drugs. (iv) Polymers could also be useful when being covalently combined with small-molecule drugs to form macromolecular prodrugs. (v) Polymer-based vaccines or vaccine adjuvants can be used to prevent virus infection or even to boost the immune response during infection [25]. SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome–associated coronavirus 2.