Respiratory System-Based in Vitro Antiviral Drug Repurposing Strategies for Sars-Cov

Abstract

To date, no known drug therapy is available for COVID-19. Further, the complicated vaccination processes like limited infrastructure, insufficient know-how, and regulatory restrictions on vaccines caused this pandemic episode more badly. Due to the lack of ready-to-use vaccination, millions of people have been severely infected by SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, the increasing contagion risk of the SARS-CoV-2 variants makes drug repurposing studies more critical. Conventionally, antiviral drug repurposing has been conducted on two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems or in vivo-based experimental setups. Recently, In vitro three-dimensional (3D) cell culture techniques have proven more coherent in mimicking host-pathogen interactions and exploring or repurposing drugs than other 2D cell culture methods. 3D culture techniques like organoids, bioprinting, and microfluidics/organ-on-a-chip have just been started to mimic the natural microenvironment respiratory system infected with SARS-CoV-2. These techniques avoid the need for animals in agreement with the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) to enhance animal welfare. Herein, SARS-CoV-2-host interaction and 3D cell culture techniques have been. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.