ENHANCING ANTIVIRAL EFFICACY: THE SYNERGY OF DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS AND NUCLEOSIDE ANALOGS

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has revealed weaknesses in our readiness to address emerging viral threats, stressing the urgent need for sustainable strategies to combat such outbreaks. Nucleoside analogs, an important class of antiviral drugs, have shown their effectiveness, but their synthesis often relies on hazardous organic solvents, presenting significant sustainability challenges and environmental concerns. This study aims to tackle these challenges by exploring the potential of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as eco-friendly alternatives for the greener manufacturing of these life-saving therapies. The research begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the SARS-CoV-2 virus lifecycle, identifying key targets where nucleoside analogs can effectively intervene to disrupt viral replication. This fundamental understanding serves as a crucial foundation for the development of potent antiviral candidates against COVID-19 and future coronavirus threats, ensuring their targeted and efficient action. DESs, an emerging class of solvents derived from renewable bioresources such as sugars and organic acids, offer unique solvation properties while being non-toxic and biodegradable. The focus of this work is on synthesizing and optimizing DESs composed of glucose combined with tartaric acid or citric acid as sustainable media for the production of nucleoside analogs. The research focuses on using optimized deep eutectic solvents (DES) as more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional solvents typically used in the synthesis, purification, and formulation of nucleoside analogs. This comprehensive analysis aims to demonstrate that DES are a practical solution. By combining bio-based DES with potent nucleoside analogs, this work presents an environmentally responsible approach to sustainably producing important therapies against viral threats such as COVID-19. This approach enables us to safeguard public health by providing these essential pharmaceuticals while minimizing their environmental impact.