Biomaterial-based Immunoengineering to Fight COVID-19 and Infectious Diseases

Abstract Infection by SARS-CoV-2 virus often induces the dysregulation of immune responses, tissue damage, and blood clotting. Engineered biomaterials from the nano to macro scale can provide targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, local immunomodulation, enhanced immunity, and other desirable functions to coordinate appropriate immune responses and repair tissues. Based on the understanding of COVID-19 disease progression and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, we discuss possible immuno-therapeutic strategies and highlight biomaterial approaches from the perspectives of preventive immunization, therapeutic immunomodulation, and tissue healing and regeneration. Successful development of biomaterial platforms for immunization and immunomodulation will not only benefit COVID-19 patients, but also have broad applications for a variety of infectious diseases.